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Johannesburg - It was evident from the debates at the land tenure summit that delegates were frustrated with poor implementation and corruption in the land sector, the Agri-Sector Unity Forum of SA (Asuf) said on Monday.
The summit was called on relatively short notice and was attended by more than 2 000 invitees of which only a handful were from the commercial agricultural sector, according to Asuf.
The summit was attended by various Asuf member organisations including Agri SA, Afasa, the Transvaal Agricultural Union and the National African Farmers' Union.
“Asuf participated in the summit expecting that the outcomes would be in line with the Constitution, taking stock of implementation failures in the past, and coming up with workable solutions within this framework, which would help speed up land reform without endangering food security”, Asuf chair Japie Grobler said in a statement.
“The summit started off on a positive note, with the majority of delegates acting in a disciplined manner and although the debates in the commissions were vibrant and robust, it took place in the spirit of nation building, respect and a fair degree of realism.”
Land ceilings
The organisation claims, however, that Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti used the summit to push for land ownership limits known as "land ceilings".
"It seems Minister Nkwinti's main aim with this summit was to get [a] buy-in for the ANC policy conference resolutions regarding land ceilings," said Grobler.
"It really is a pity that the minister used this summit to try and force land ceilings through and did so on the basis of a discussion document submitted to him by Afasa [the African Farmers' Association of SA]."
READ: Govt set to implement ANC land decisions
The three-day summit in Boksburg, which ended on Saturday, heard that a cap could be imposed on the amount of land farmers could own, according to the SABC.
It was proposed that small- and medium-scale farmers be allowed a ceiling of between 4 000 and 8 000 hectares, the broadcaster reported.
Grobler said land ceilings were proposed in a Green Paper, but there had been no buy-in after nearly two years of consultation and negotiations.
"From the outset, it was clear that the minister wanted the summit to give the go-ahead for the implementation of land ceilings in order to give effect to the Green Paper proposal of private ownership with limited extent," he said.
"Whilst some of the member organisations of Asuf indicated at the summit that they might support blanket land-ceilings, this is an extremely complex matter with many probable negative consequences."
He said a "host of variables" had to be taken into account regarding sustainable farm sizes.
"It is something which requires informed debate within the Asuf family and will be on the agenda of its next meeting.
"This debate must take place within the framework of national food security, the stability of the sector, investment in the sector and commodity specific requirements for land."
He said land ceilings in an "absolute form", like a maximum number of hectares, could negatively affect job creation.
Tenure security of farm-dwellers
Tenure security of farm-dwellers was high on the agenda and eviction from commercial farms was highlighted as an ongoing problem.
A moratorium on evictions was once again called for. There was also a call for effective implementation and enforcement of existing laws and policies.
One commission recommended that the relative rights proposal be shelved until a comprehensive overhaul of existing policies and laws has taken place and options such as equity shareholding schemes and BEE deals considered as viable alternatives.
The issue of provision of basic services to farmworkers and farm-dwellers also received attention and it was evident that clarity is required as to who is responsible for providing such basic services.
Asuf said it encourages all its member organisations to help ensure that farmworkers and their families reside in good quality housing and have access to basic services such as clean, running water and proper sanitation.
Asuf also said it welcomes the minister’s efforts to get the communal land into production by way of issuing title deeds.
“This is a major step in the right direction,” Grobler said.
ALSO READ: Farmers raise concerns on land reforms
- Fin24
