Land Bank cedes to DA request to investigate liquidation drive

19 October 2023

Following the seemingly relentless pursuit of liquidations and hasty land sales undertaken by the Land Bank, the Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes their decision to finally investigate the actions of the people that represented them.

The DA has been pushing for better support of farmers by the Land Bank since allegations came to light last year that representatives of the Land Bank were orchestrating a process whereby farmers, who were struggling to make repayments, were being liquidated and their farms hastily sold at prices way below market value, by the Land Bank.

The DA expressed outrage at the allegations and during subsequent meetings of the Select Committee on Finance as well as in written questions, I asked the Minister of Finance and the Land Bank about the liquidations and land sales, including who was representing them. I also raised concern that those representing them could cause them huge reputational damage.

I further appealed to the Land Bank to assist struggling farmers to sustain their farming operations through means such as the introduction of payment holidays, instead of punishing them.

Farmers are, after all, responsible for ensuring food security. Many farmers, however, have had to battle droughts, floods and fires with little to no support from the government, while still trying to keep up food production and make ends meet in an increasingly harsh climate where fuel prices and loadshedding are crippling the sector.

After ongoing deliberations with the Land Bank in committee, the DA welcomes their decision to finally investigate the actions of the people who represented them and to halt further liquidations and related land sales, until the investigations are finalized.

The DA will continue to closely monitor the process, as we strive to safeguard food security and protect property rights.

Issued by Willie Aucamp, DA member of the NCOP, 19 October 2023