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Johannesburg - The proposal that commercial agriculture must transfer 50% of land to workers is an election ploy with the potential to create a major disaster for agriculture and property rights in SA, according to Jaco Schoeman, acting chair of the Afrikanerbond and convener of the Ad Hoc Group For The Protection Of Property Rights.
"Land and land ownership remain a highly emotional issue and the proposal that commercial agriculture must now transfer 50% of land to workers is unfair, unjustified and not affordable," Schoeman said in an open letter to Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform Gugile Nkwinti.
"We have repeatedly warned in the past that the ANC government must steer clear of the temptation to use land as a political pawn."
Schoeman regards the latest policy proposals by Nkwinti and his department, entitled "Final policy proposals on the strengthening of the relative rights of people working the land", as a demonstration of a faction in government that has "succumbed to the temptation to use land as a tool in the 2014 election".
The fact that these policy proposals came in an election period as an official document of the department, makes them "even more suspicious and creates a climate of uncertainty and further anxiety", according to Schoeman.
"The message these policy proposals are sending is that the ANC ruling party can no longer be trusted with discussions and consultations," said Schoeman.
"Goalposts are constantly shifted and then policy proposals are tabled that is not realistic and not feasible."
Policy framework
Schoeman regards the policy framework as an attempt by the department "to disguise its own incapacity and massive failure".
"Available funds have been squandered on luxury land reform projects and wastage by incompetent cadres through corruption and self-enrichment," said Schoeman.
"The total absence of any reliable and credible information on ownership of state land adds to the growing perception that this land policy proposal is part and parcel of an unworkable and outdated ideology that will result in even bigger and more disastrous results."
Schoeman calls these "promises of land to which people have no claim" as playing with fire and as having serious implications for SA's economy and property rights.
"For this dangerous game Minister Nkwinti must accept direct responsibility," said Schoeman.
He said in the past various alternative proposals had been suggested regarding workable solutions to land ownership and agriculture in South Africa.
"It appears as if the new policy proposals are aimed at avoiding any success and instead pave the way for large-scale state intervention in all types of property in SA, not only agricultural land," said Schoeman.
He is of the opinion that nationalisation is a hidden element of these proposals.
"This government, that has won the democratic elections of 1994, is now implementing measures which have the potential to destabilise the country," said Schoeman.
"Government can no longer be trusted with the protection of property rights."
"Land and land ownership remain a highly emotional issue and the proposal that commercial agriculture must now transfer 50% of land to workers is unfair, unjustified and not affordable," Schoeman said in an open letter to Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform Gugile Nkwinti.
"We have repeatedly warned in the past that the ANC government must steer clear of the temptation to use land as a political pawn."
Schoeman regards the latest policy proposals by Nkwinti and his department, entitled "Final policy proposals on the strengthening of the relative rights of people working the land", as a demonstration of a faction in government that has "succumbed to the temptation to use land as a tool in the 2014 election".
The fact that these policy proposals came in an election period as an official document of the department, makes them "even more suspicious and creates a climate of uncertainty and further anxiety", according to Schoeman.
"The message these policy proposals are sending is that the ANC ruling party can no longer be trusted with discussions and consultations," said Schoeman.
"Goalposts are constantly shifted and then policy proposals are tabled that is not realistic and not feasible."
Policy framework
Schoeman regards the policy framework as an attempt by the department "to disguise its own incapacity and massive failure".
"Available funds have been squandered on luxury land reform projects and wastage by incompetent cadres through corruption and self-enrichment," said Schoeman.
"The total absence of any reliable and credible information on ownership of state land adds to the growing perception that this land policy proposal is part and parcel of an unworkable and outdated ideology that will result in even bigger and more disastrous results."
Schoeman calls these "promises of land to which people have no claim" as playing with fire and as having serious implications for SA's economy and property rights.
"For this dangerous game Minister Nkwinti must accept direct responsibility," said Schoeman.
He said in the past various alternative proposals had been suggested regarding workable solutions to land ownership and agriculture in South Africa.
"It appears as if the new policy proposals are aimed at avoiding any success and instead pave the way for large-scale state intervention in all types of property in SA, not only agricultural land," said Schoeman.
He is of the opinion that nationalisation is a hidden element of these proposals.
"This government, that has won the democratic elections of 1994, is now implementing measures which have the potential to destabilise the country," said Schoeman.
"Government can no longer be trusted with the protection of property rights."
