FS-Agriculture’s position on amending S25 to allow for Expropriation without Compensation
Intro:
We all want to create a better future for our children, right?
We all want to see our old people retire with dignity, right?
We all want to see our young people be afforded decent jobs, right?
We don’t want our people / children going to bed hungry, right?
Well then, meddling with section 25 of the constitution to allow for expropriation without compensation is not the way to go!
Herewith FS-Agriculture’s position on amending S25 to allow for Expropriation without Compensation:
1. Free State Agri Represents 3539 commercial farmer members in the Free State, 6 big Agribusiness affiliated members and commercial commodity association affiliated members such as the MPO, RPO, NWGA, PotatoesSA, DPO, etc.. Together with their families (many commercial farms have 3 generations living on them) these make +-25 000 and including the +-100 000 workers in full time and part time employ + the ave. of 6 dependants per full time worker = close to 625 000 people reliant on commercial agriculture in the Free State and living productively in the rural areas, supporting the local economies of small Free State towns which could be under threat if the land on which commercial farmers, their families and workers live and earn a living is taken away from them.
2. The network of commercial farmers and the businesses, which they support through forward and backward linkages provide food to the 70% urbanized population in SA; who do not want to toil in the sun and grow their own food, but who have opted to seek employment in the cities to improve their lot.
3. Production capital is needed for the commercial production of food and financial institutions require collateral in the form of secure property rights to grant such credit.
4. Existing commercial farmers cannot carry the risk and responsibility of land reform alone – no property rights and no production capital will lead to insufficient food production. Do we really want to mess with this sector which carried our economy through the last 2 quarters, preventing us going into negative economic growth (i.e a recession)?
5. Most commercial farmers have huge outstanding debt bonded on their properties or have spent generations paying off that debt – they cannot be held responsible for the past and “made to pay” through the expropriation of their hard earned gains without just and equitable compensation.?
6. Mistakes of the past need to be rectified though positive, visionary, solutions-driven dialogue and goal oriented action in a socially cohesive manner. Furthermore the Restitution of Land Act (and Bill currently under revision) make provision for this.
7. Free State Agriculture supports Land Reform based on orderly, economically viable, just, equitable and sustainable principles. Commercial farmers in the Free State can and will, within their means, build on a new future for agriculture wherein all South Africans can and must share.
8. Free State Agriculture connects with stakeholders and participates in dialogue to build this future together. Free State Agriculture supports the productive development and responsible management of agricultural land by new and emerging farmers.
9. Free State Agriculture distances itself from emotive political rhetoric that insinuates that farmers stole the land and rejects such attempts aimed at driving a wedge between population groups.
10. Free State Agriculture is convinced that amending S25 of the constitution will not achieve land reform any faster as Section 25 is not the real impediment, and finally, Expropriation without Compensation is
economic suicide for this proud nation we have all worked hard to build up! Let’s stop playing politics and let’s get down to work!
