DA takes on land reform

Over 127 400 new jobs have been created in the Western Cape in the agriculture and agri-processing sectors and it would not be a miracle for Limpopo to follow suit, Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane, pictured, says.

He was speaking during a visit to Northam, north of Polokwane, with black farmers who have allegedly been blocked from obtaining ownership of the land they farm in Limpopo.

Lack of access and security of tenure among black South Africans in rural and agricultural areas was being perpetuated by the ANC-led government that speaks the language of “empowerment”, but really perpetuates dependency, he said.

“The ANC will have you believe they care about land reform but in reality, they care about control.

“This is not real empowerment. Land reform is a moral imperative and presents an opportunity to stimulate rural economies and truly empower disadvantaged black South Africans,” he said.

“We believe qualified black farmers must be given land to own, instead of them being at the mercy of government,” said Maimane.

According to Maimane, more than 1.4 million hectares of land in SA was still to be transferred to its rightful owners. He said the Western Cape was the only provincial government that has established evaluations of all land reform farms which, he said, had increased employment by 40%.

Maimane said the DA would work with farmers in Limpopo to see these statistics were replicated there and elsewhere in the country.

The DA had learnt that some black farmers were paying exorbitant lease fees to government without the option to buy the land they farm.

DA shadow minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries Annette Steyn said: “The DA can reveal today that the ANC has spent R21 billion on acquiring 3.4 million hectares of land since 1996.

“However, only 2 million hectares have been transferred, meaning that only 59% of land has been transferred to people while 41% is yet to be transferred.

“The ANC does not have any political will to hand over land. They simply use the land issue as a carrot to dangle in the face of the poor when they campaign for votes. Meanwhile, they distribute that land among themselves and the Guptas.”