Afrikaners have always been busy building and developing South Africa. Their rights should be recognised, because they want to stay here to help make the country so prosperous that no-one wants to leave.
The country’s Constitution and even the ANC’s own Freedom Charter stipulate that the land belongs to all who live in it; black and white, and that we are all united in our diversity.
Afrikaners are inextricably part of this diversity and want to help the country prosper. In this respect, the FF Plus wants to thank President Donald Trump of America who has put the spotlight on Afrikaners and the problems they face.
If there are people who feel they want to leave the country, it is their choice, the FF Plus will not tell them what to do.
However, there are some uncomfortable truths that need to be dealt with in the process, such as land reform, the Expropriation Act, and the assumption that expropriation without compensation will resolve the root of the problem.
The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development indicates in an annual report on the restitution programme that up to date approximately 80 000 claims have been finalised. Of these, 94% of the claimants preferred monetary restitution as opposed to land.
In the cases where landownership was transferred to the claimants, 80% of the existing agricultural projects on the land failed. So, it is wrong to assume that expropriation without compensation will serve as a quick fix to achieve successful land reform.
The world’s view of South Africa and the influence of social media should also be taken into account. Abuses such as illegal land occupations no longer go unnoticed.
In one ongoing case, a farmer’s land near Wepener in the Free State is being partially illegally occupied and the police are refusing to take action. In another case near Stilfontein, land is being illegally occupied and the police are refusing to enforce a court order to remove the occupants.
Based on these cases, it would be justified to point the finger at government as an accomplice to land grabs.
Such problems can only be resolved by recognising uncomfortable truths, discussing them and sorting them out. Everyone needs to work together to make South Africa so prosperous that no-one wants to leave.
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