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April 2015
Quality of soils – good lands seldom come into the market. A
huge problem is that the state buys up the poorest of the poor
soils at sky high prices for absolute sub-standard land. When
these farms are handed to a beneficiary they are already set up
to fail. Swart suggests that local farmers should be consulted on
the usefulness of such farming land before the state buys them
up.
The beneficiaries – the farms are not being given the right
jockeys.
Recapitalisation – this cannot only be done over one year.
Rather it should be rolled out over a five year period to ensure
sustainability and even then there should still be support systems
like lower interest rates.
About land reform he remarks: “Hierdie trein wat ons opgeklim
het vir hulp, se wiele is pap.”
Andrew Makenete
Mr Andrew Makenete, director of Manama Hole and Musa Capital,
urged a balanced view of land reform.
20 years on and no blood has been spilt and millions have been
spent on restitution, redistribution and reform, but he maintains that
land reform has not delivered land to black producers, the money
has not been spent well and disillusionment has set in.
If we continue to do more of the same we will waste more millions.
There is no proper strategic framework guiding land reform capturing
both the NDP and the mood of the citizens. Current proposals by
government are not viable or scientific.
He contends that land value destruction post acquisition is severe
and a new approach is needed. Makenete proposed ownership of
land be transferred from Rural Development and title given to the
Land Bank which will issue long-term leases to farmers so that land
can become an asset for the producers and give them an opportunity
to move forward.
“
If you have a vision
and you have plans,
you will also have a
future on the farm.
– Ralph Swart, new era commercial
farmer from Elim
“
“
We see ourselves, new era
commercial farmers, classified in
the same way as foreigners in
that we too cannot own land.”
– Victor Mongoato, vice-chairman of Grain SA
“
“
We’ve run out of
time to bicker over
every little detail and
will probably reach
compromises in future
to take the process
further.
– Japie Grobler, ASUF
“
Andrew Makenete
Japie Grobler
Schalk Pienaar
Ralph Swart