Farmers urged not to panic at NC congress
THE THIRTY-NINTH Agri Northern Cape Congress took place in Kimberley yesterday.
Several speakers addressed congress goers, including Melanie Verwoerd, a former ANC politician, ambassador and former director of Unicef Ireland.
In her address, Verwoerd urged farmers not to panic about the proposed expropriation of land without compensation.
“The ANC has always been clear that they could expropriate without compensation, therefore the constitutional amendment only clarifies the current provision,” said Verwoerd.
She pointed out that ANC policy documents clearly indicated that the governing party did not intend to expropriate people’s homes or productive farmland and instead they were talking about specific instances of derelict buildings, unproductive farmland, land obtained through illegal means, etc.
According to Verwoerd, this would also be done on a case-by-case basis and would not be a general blanket land grab.
Verwoerd said further that it appeared that SA President Cyril Ramaphosa was trying to straddle the legitimate demands of the masses for land and economic transformation on the one hand and the stability of the economy and the country on the other.
“This is an almost impossible task, but he has to do it if he wants to survive politically.”
Dan Kriek, who addressed the positioning of organised agriculture to ensure optimal and sustainable production in a safe environment, pointed out that South
Africa was not a failed state, although it was facing a few challenges.
“We have a few choices on how we position ourselves – there are some easy choices and some difficult ones.”
He said that organised agriculture could decide to adopt a confrontational style, “but this means that you only have a hammer as a tool”, or a more balanced style.
“You also have to decide who you want to position yourself with. Many people want to speak on behalf of organised agriculture but be careful of who your partners are because there are values that you uphold and principles you believe in.”
He pointed out that the agricultural sector was wide and diverse. “Agriculture, I believe, must position itself on the Constitution of this country. It must be positioned in the mainstream of the economy and in the middle ground between all the people of this country.”
‘You also have to decide who you want to position yourself with’
Turbulent
Economist, Dr Roelof Botha, pointed out that the next two years would be turbulent for South Africa, with the seismic event in December when a new ANC leader would be chosen. “The outcome of this will have a massive impact on the economy of the country.”
He urged organised agriculture to stand together and support each other.
“You have partners in all the Sadec countries in Africa.”
The congress was also addressed by the MEC for Agriculture, Norman Shushu, who urged congress goers not to listen to those who used the land issue to sweep up people’s emotions.
Nicol Jansen, the previous deputy president of Agri NC, was unanimously elected to serve as president, taking over from Henk van Wyk, who died recently of a suspected heart attack.
Van Zyl Naude, a sheep and cattle farmer from Richmond, was announced as Agri NC and Toyota’s Young Farmer of the Year, while Danie Fourie was announced as the winner in the irrigation sector.