The real SOUTH AFRICA – not the new South Africa

September 2018

JANNIE DE VILLIERS, CEO, Grain SA

If I recall correctly it was during a strategic session with the Agri SA team that Mr Chris Klopper explained the concept of moving from the old South Africa to the new South Africa. The new South Africa is not really where we want to be, as in the new South Africa corruption, discrimination, poverty and poor service delivery reign.

He painted a picture of the real South Africa that exists in our minds. I immediately grasped this vision because it related to my personal mission in life, which is built on the premise that agriculture is the only true way to heal our country. This is the reason for many hours spent on rebuilding relations and using agriculture to give our people back their dignity.

All of us will agree that the 1994 election, and all the events surrounding it, was the moment when we moved from the old to the new South Africa. For me the Bela-Bela Land Summit on 23 and 24 August this year was the moment when we moved from the new South Africa to the real South Africa. People found each other in the 63 stories that were shared.

This is where the impossible became possible. The same impossible that Nelson Mandela dreamed of: ‘It always seems impossible until it’s done…’

The foundation for these newly established relations was not found in the BEE act, but quoted from a chapter and verse out of the Bible. All these stories did not start a week ago, but started ten years ago – or even longer back. You can ask yourself why we only hear all these stories of hope now? I firmly believe that it is the Lord’s perfect timing. Only He knows.

What I know about the Lord’s timing is that it is always on time; never too soon or too late. I saw hope in peoples’ eyes. I saw a picture of the real South Africa and what it can look like as described by Klopper a few years ago.

Behind the scenes a lot of work had been done and we as leaders had to take immense strain in the run-up to this historic moment, so we all can move to the real South Africa. But man, is it worth it!

Publication: September 2018

Section: Grain SA