Land issue needs to be handled responsibly

Illegal occupation is viewed as theft by international communities, writes RJ.

The debate on property rights rages back and forth and while there is no doubt that restitution needs to be made, the manner in which this is implemented is critical to what happens to South Africa.

Does it become yet another failed African state or does it go from strength to strength to the benefit of all citizens?

No doubt Julius Malema has a vision of himself and a few of his selected cronies grabbing fully functioning farms, fully furnished and complete with all equipment, and after that the farms would continue to produce by some miraculous means and the money would pour in while they sat on the porch drinking Blue Label when they were not driving around in fancy motor cars.

The reality is quite different. Investors and the world at large will not invest or do business with thieves. Land grabs are viewed as theft by the international community and the disinvestment and capital flight that will follow the first land grab will make Zuma’s best efforts to ruin the economy look like an afternoon picnic by comparison.

Zimbabwe’s problems really started when the theft of farmland started there and not only did the economy fail totally, starvation from lack of food became a daily reality.

If there is any deviation from a responsible approach to land redistribution, it will be time for everyone of all races to move to Australia.