Free State Agriculture will work together to protect property rights

Free State Agriculture (FSA) is extremely disappointed, but not surprised, about the recommendation of the Constitutional Review Committee after a monthly process of public participation to amend Section 25 of the Constitution. It will work with all organizations, who is pursuing the same goal, to prevent this broken and politically-manipulated process run its course.

This is according to Francois Wilken, President of FSA, after the committee on 15 November 2018 recommended that Section 25 of the Constitution should be amended to allow expropriation without compensation.

“Although it is not seen as a referendum, it is clear that it is a politically manipulated process. The reasons are because the written submissions, which were factually based, and the Motlanthe report, are ignored,” Wilken said.

“However, it now gives civil society and interest groups the opportunity to test the validity of the process in courts.”

According to Gerhard Kriel, Chief Executive Officer of FSA, his organization, which is affiliated with Agri SA, will work together with the other eight provincial organizations and industry organizations to resist the amendment and protect the property rights of its members. “The organizations we will work with also include civil rights groups, political parties and influencers on a world stage who can help take the necessary action to protect the property rights of our members,” he said.

Wilken said the recommendation of the Constitutional Review Committee is not a surprise, as certain parties, which the committee was made up of, in the first place made the proposal for the amendment.

Kriel questioned public participation in the process. “Free State Agriculture and its members participated in the public process and observed how members of the committee allowed that often instigating and factual incorrect statements were made. These speakers created the impression that majority of participants in the process in the sessions preferred Section 25 to be changed.”

Kriel said FSA and many of its members also submitted required written submissions with the confidence that the process would be beyond doubt. “Free State Agriculture was shocked to hear that the processes undertaken by the review committee appear not to have been be correct and fair.”

“Free State Agriculture will follow the upcoming process very closely, influence it to the benefit of its members and act harshly if necessary,” Wilken said.

If parliament accepts the proposal of the committee, a new committee will be appointed for the next public participation process to compile the amendment. According to Kriel there are indications that this process may take up to a year to complete.