Comments of Mr. Gugile Nkwinti, minister of rural development and land reform, that a 50% share scheme will be imposed to redistribute land is irresponsible and ill-considered, says Dr. Pieter Groenewald, the FF Plus’ parliamentary spokesperson on land reform.
Dr. Groenewald says this type of comment creates complete uncertainty in the agricultural community.
“The farmers tell us that they will rather go and farm in Australia or other countries because there is such uncertainty whether they will still have any land.
It also has a detrimental effect on commercial banks who offer production loans to farmers where land also has to form part of the security offered. It will make that security questionable.
“We call on the ANC to first ensure that a success is made of land which has already been redistributed following claims laid to land. And of which the minister himself acknowledged that 90% had failed. Only then should they continue with further land redistribution.
“Secondly, the FF Plus wants to tell the minister that he should reveal the land audit so that it could be ascertained how much commercial land belongs to white farmers and how much belongs to black farmers.
“If there isn’t such an audit, targets cannot be set and the minister is groping around in the dark about this issue,” Dr. Groenewald said.
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