JOHANNESBURG, July 28 (ANA) - Agri SA was extremely concerned about several aspects of the Presidential Advisory Panel on Land Reform’s report and particularly the controversial recommendations which include amending the Constitution and land ceilings, the agricultural organisation said on Sunday.
Agri SA did not support any policy or legislation that infringed on property rights or any other fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution.
“If the recommendations contained in this report are implemented to the letter, food security for all South Africans will be compromised,” Agri SA executive director Omri van Zyl said.
“Investor and business confidence are already low, and the last thing we need is further strain on the economy and the agricultural sector,” he said.
Agri SA president Dan Kriek was a member of the panel and fully vested himself in this process. However, it became clear that there were fundamental differences in opinion and approach to land reform within the panel. Kriek and fellow panel member Nick Serfontein therefore compiled an alternative report with a focus on private sector solutions, Agri SA said.
“The alternative report identifies common-sense solutions to land reform, which is lacking in many aspects of the panel report,” Agri SA land policy head Annelize Crosby said.
“We are strongly of the view that land reform in farming areas will take a huge step forward with the establishment of an agricultural development agency where the private sector takes a leading role in driving and financing sustainable land reform,” she said.
Time-consuming consultation processes that would likely follow the panel report could hamper the implementation of land reform.
“The focus should be on working together and implementing meaningful projects to the betterment of the sector. However, should these consultation processes unfold, we will participate fully and make sure that the economic realities, which are not sufficiently addressed in the report, are put on the table,” Crosby said.
Agri SA was also concerned about the motion in Parliament on Thursday that indicated a clear intention by the African National Congress to press ahead with the unnecessary and potentially damaging amendment of the property clause.
"This is clearly only being done for political reasons, as it is not warranted and will not solve the land reform problem,” Crosby said.
"Agri SA remains committed to our members and the sustainability of the agriculture sector. Agri SA wish to reiterate that we are against any amendment of the Constitution and will leave no stone unturned to protect farmers’ rights," the statement said.
The panel was appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa in September 2018 and presented its report in May this year. It was approved by Cabinet on July 24, and released to the public on Sunday.
- African News Agency (ANA)
