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5
July 2016
Now we have to remain
level-headed
t
he process to finalise the new Expropriation Act took con-
siderable time. The first draft Act was withdrawn a few years
ago and thereafter a new draft was initiated. Grain SA
welcomed this and the eventual Act is much better than the
initial draft.
Every country has an Expropriation Act. South Africa’s Act is dif-
ferent because of the season of land reform we are currently expe-
riencing. Expropriation with a view to economic development is a
necessity for every country, but if utilised for political reasons it
generates a lot of emotions.
Grain SA is not against an Expropriation Act
per se
, but if it is used
in a manner where proper compensation is not involved, we will
seek recourse in the Constitution of the country to ensure that the
process is applied fairly. Expropriation for land reform is no easy
matter, but such laws are a necessity to expedite the process.
The last time I enquired, the figure of all agricultural land coming
onto the market annually, was 13%. That alone is enough for govern-
ment to purchase with a view to land reform – and then almost no
land expropriation would be necessary.
So where does the problem lie? Does the state not have the money
or are there still those who are hoping that they will get everything
for free? There might even be some avarice involved in the matter
– potential producers who do not want a farm, but who want spe-
cific pieces of land close enough to their houses in town so that
they may be able to farm only on weekends? The government’s
agricultural support system most likely does not have the capacity
to support the establishment of new producers at the rate land
becomes available.
The maintenance of land values is synonymous with food securi-
ty. Should the land lose its value as a result of uncontrolled expro-
priation or even the occupation of farms, the security which is the
guarantee for production loans, will disappear. Financial institutions
will just suspend or curtail credit – depending on the impact – and as
a result production will decrease.
South Africa has for the past season experienced high food prices
– derived from import parity – and was definitely not impressed.
Plans are now feverishly made everywhere to once again ‘normal-
ise’ food prices. However, any manner of unlawful expropriation or
illegal land reform could push our country over the edge into a per-
manent ‘abnormal’ situation.
My observation of the current situation in the grain industry is that
the relationships between the various role-players are decidedly
tempestuous. The rest of the value chain is focused on their own
distinctive problems – whether it is the importation of maize or coun-
tering the overseas attack on the local poultry industry.
The upcoming local election, together with the drought, has very
clearly indicated where the Government’s priorities lie. All exist-
ing policies are being reviewed as if the drought will never end and
everything must be done to reduce food prices. Now is the time to
remain level-headed and to focus on long term sustainability.
DS KOOS KIRSTEN
WOORD
Uit die
h
oe gee ‘n mens uiting aan jou diepste emosies van vreug-
de en dankbaarheid? Daardie gevoel wat jy ervaar het
toe die eerste druppels reën na die droogte begin val het.
Óf toe die vragmotor met die voer wat aan jou geskenk
is op die werf stilgehou het. Dít wat jy beleef het toe die
bank laat weet het dat hulle jou skuld gaan herskeduleer en dat jy
kan aangaan om te boer. Daardie emosies en gevoelens wat jy nie in
woorde kan uitdruk nie.
Dawid het iets van dié aard beleef toe hy bevry is uit die hande van
die Filistynse koning Abimelek (Ps. 34). Hy wou net sing en het sy
medegelowiges uitgenooi om saam te sing. Hy wou die Here se
Naam grootmaak en Hom verheerlik en die beste manier om dit te
doen, is om te sing. Hoe meer mense saamsing, hoe lekkerder is dit.
Daarom nooi hy alle gelowiges uit om saam met hom te sing.
Omdat die Here sy gebede beantwoord het (vers 5 en 7), wil Dawid
sing. Hy het geroep en die Here het hom uit sy benoudheid gered.
Hy wil sing omdat die Here sy engele gestuur het om hom te be-
skerm (vers 8). Sy vyande kon niks aan hom doen nie. Die psalmdigter
wil sing omdat die Here hom versorg het (vers 10 en 11) en hy geen
gebrek ly nie.
Met sy sang wil hy selfs die kinders leer om die Here lief te hê en te
dien, want die Here sorg vir dié wat Hom vrees.
Dawid wil egter geensins beweer dat dit altyd net goed sal gaan
met die gelowiges nie. Hy sê in vers 20 dat menigvuldige teen-
spoed die gelowige sal tref. Die Here sal egter in alles altyd by hom
wees. Soos die apostel Paulus ook in Rom. 8:31 - 38 sê dat niks in tyd
of ewigheid, niks van al die teenspoed en rampe wat ons in hierdie
lewe tref, ons van God se liefde kan skei nie. Hy het immers sy liefde
in Christus aan ons betoon.
Ons het dus altyd oorvloedige rede om bly te wees en te jubel in die
Here. Ons het genoeg rede om saam met Dawid en alle gelowiges
van vandag en ten alle tye, tot lof en eer van God te sing.
Baie geluk aan
Meriam Putsane van
Bothaville wat vir die
Junie-uitgawe van
SA Graan/Grain
die
gratis Bybel gewen het.