Land grab motion ‘borderline insane’

The motion passed in Parliament to weigh the possibility of the expropriation of land without compensation is “borderline insane”, says Afribusiness CEO Piet le Roux.

The motion passed in Parliament to weigh the possibility of the expropriation of land without compensation is “borderline insane”, says Afribusiness CEO Piet le Roux.

“It will reverse the progress made in [land] restitution,” he said. “This is a crisis.

“It is the most important political moment in SA’s history since [the negotiated settlement reached in] 1994.” Le Roux spoke after a closed meeting of civil society organisations under the auspices of Afribusiness, the Solidarity movement and the FW de Klerk Foundation.

The Afribusiness meeting — which included the Free Market Foundation, Helen Suzman Foundation, South African Institute of Race Relations and farmers’ union TLU SA — agreed that land reform in SA had to proceed apace. It said public protests would be launched.

PROTESTS

Le Roux said that although the parliamentary motion had passed, it was not clear that such a policy was widely supported. “[It] is not about agriculture or poverty alleviation, it is about the nationalisation of property, and not just of land.”

If accepted, it would affect the rights of all South Africans, black and white, but mostly of black people, he said.

Solidarity chairman Flip Buys proposed steps to resist the motion, including promoting an understanding of property rights and liaison with foreign investors.

Buys said the threat to pension funds was especially concerning.

The FW de Klerk Foundation’s Dave Stewart said President Cyril Ramaphosa’s stance contradicted his statement at the past Davos economic forum that SA was open for business.

Ramaphosa warned earlier against panic over the expropriation motion and the “beating of war drums”.