The president of TLU SA, Henry Geldenhuys, took the opportunity at TLU SA’s annual media function on 20 November 2023, to be honest about the reality of agriculture in South Africa while expressing gratitude to the media for their role in promoting agriculture.
Emphasising the importance of being honest about our reality and taking a stance against issues that could have negative consequences for our future was a key theme of the media function. “South Africa is currently not in a good place, and our agricultural industry is suffering under the management of the national government. Anyone who is honest with themselves realises this,” Geldenhuys stated during the media function.
“Our future should not be determined by those who tear down and destroy, but by those who are committed to economic growth and building our future. We must be vigilant against accepting these situations,” Geldenhuys remarked.
Agriculture is an economic process where the final say should always come from market forces. It is extremely shortsighted to blindly accept any ideological or political statement without testing it against the markets. If it is clear that the markets reject it, we must be honest and responsible and reconsider. According to TLU SA’s judgement, there is simply too much support for regulations that have already proven to fail. This includes the entire transformation agenda, which encompasses cadre deployment, corruption, state-owned enterprises, and unlawful misallocation and self-enrichment.
“South Africa needs to regain trust in our systems, but it must be a realistic trust based on values that yield meaningful and practical outcomes and promote economic growth. In that spirit, we must approach the future optimistically, fully utilising our cultural mission and talents. When we do things right, it is a positive process where we strive for improvement, not just as individuals but also as organisations that bring a sense of pride in what we represent,” Geldenhuys emphasised.
In conclusion of the media function, Geldenhuys called on the media to always be honest about the reality in South Africa together with TLU SA. “This is a good starting point for finding solutions to the various unacceptable problems in South Africa. TLU SA chooses to promote positive outcomes – help us achieve this in the interest of every citizen of the country,” Geldenhuys concluded.
