THE RSA HEADING TO SOCIALSM?

During a special meeting of TAU SA's Executive Committee (EC), it expressed its opposition to the proposals which will give substantial rights to farmworkers on farms resulting in farmers losing in effect 50 % of their farms.

TAU SA is of the opinion that a perception is created that everything which is going wrong in the country could be ascribed to the farmers. This is unfair and unfounded, and therefore this view is rejected. For several centuries, farmers produces of food and fibre, they obtained their land fairly and do not have reason to feel guilty about anything.

TAU SA took notice of statistics indicating that land reform projects have maintained a 90 % plus failure rate, resulting many people being unemployed. There is a general perception that land indicates wealth. Land can only contribute to the creation of wealth if people work hard on it and practice successful farming.

Currently there is a "bouquet of legislation" which are interdependent and which are especially focused on agriculture. The latest of these include:

* The National Development Plan which targets 20% land for land reform while other farmers have to financethe costs involved by 50%.

* The latest proposals from the Department of Land Affairs and Rural Development by which a farmer has to make 50% of his land available to the farm workers (whether they live on the farm or not ) .

* Tenure legislation providing for land to be given to farm dwellers enjoying security of tenure (who are not necessarily farm workers).

* Reopening the land claims which will result in a plethora of new land claims on farms.

Poverty is found largely in areas where communities do not possess title deeds and who have to make a living on communal land.

The reasons why TAU SA rejected the latest proposals include:

* Farmers do not owe anyone anything. Farmers did not steal land. If government wants to implement a land reform process, it should be financed by government. The farmers do not need to do this on governments' behalf and are not willing to do so.

* Government uses the Freedom Charter as a foundation of policy which will ultimately lead to centralised control and ownership. Agricultural land is just the first step.

* The current process will lead to socialism which has failed worldwide and leads to poverty

* It is a form of nationalization, regardless of whether it is disguised as "deprivation".

* It is the surest and shortest road to starvation of the masses.

* Rural stability and a stable rural economy will be disrupted and eventually destroyed.

* Unemployment will increase.

* The percentage of profit on farming averages 3%. Should this be reduced, it will lead to financial ruin.

* Farmers are unable to finance 50 % of the funding of land reform farms.  Moreover, it is unjust and unfair and farmers are simply unwilling to do so.

TAU SA is currently drafting a comprehensive document in which it will spell out its agricultural plan for the future. Some aspects that will be addressed in more detail are:

* TAU SA believes in private ownership and the capitalist system. The state must indicate whether this system is to be replaced by socialism.

* There is no resistance against new entrants in agriculture who wishes to farm for the sake of promoting food security. Those entrants can be supported by government with financing and infrastructure, while most farmers are willing to support them with advice and expertise in the interests of sustainable agriculture.

* More emphasis should be placed on the willing buyer. In general willing buyers make a success of their business, while land claimants have a perception of achieving instant wealth.

* Black economic empowerment should be replaced with broad-based economic empowerment, which promotes competence and ability and not race.

* The State should set the example with land reform by making state land available, and by helping former homelands to achieve optimal production.

* Land reform should take place within an open and free market environment.

* Farmers are encouraged to mechanize and reduce labor.

* The history should be analyzed independently by objective international historians to determine whether any land was stolen or not.

* The long outstanding comprehensive land audit needs to be conducted and concluded. Currently there is still no certainty how much land already has been transferred to in term of the restitution process. Goals have probably already been achieved which would mean that many of these emotional processes may be unnecessary.

* Mentors and extension officers should have proven track record as successful farmers. No failed farmer could ever be a successful mentor.

TAU SA unequivocally commits itself to free markets and the capitalist system. Its proposals are therefore based ​on that perspective. However TAU SA expresses its concern that Government has another agenda that will lead to a socialist order.  Government is challenged to clarify where it is heading and which model is being utilised in that process.

An economic CODESA between agriculture, the business sectors and government may become necessary.

Statement issued by TAU SA, April 8 2014

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