The theme of cooperation and unity was a constant in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s speech during his inauguration on Wednesday, 19 June, in Pretoria. After an election where no party achieved an outright majority, he emphasised that cooperation between parties is now of utmost importance. “We commit ourselves to the task of democratic renewal, social and economic transformation so that no one is left behind,” he said.
However, the agricultural organisation TLU SA believes these statements about non-racial and national unity sound hollow when his ministers issue statements shortly after that are based on half-truths, distortions, and lies. “The recent media statement released by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, titled ‘Addressing and Redressing Colonial Injustice,’ portrays white farmers as settlers and speaks with malice towards us. This is unacceptable, and we reject this statement,” says Bennie van Zyl, general manager of TLU SA.
“We want to express our disappointment with the tone and bias of this statement, which makes severe untested rhetoric and far-reaching statements that are untrue and highly distorted, and deviate significantly from correct historical facts,” says Van Zyl. “It is well-known that if the wasted funds by the department due to failed land redistribution attempts were better invested in agriculture and genuine property rights, honest assistance could have been provided to all farmers and newcomers in agriculture, making it one of South Africa’s greatest success stories.”
It is noteworthy that this sharp political statement from the Department of Agriculture was released after the appointment of the acting Minister of Agriculture, who was previously the Minister of Water and Sanitation, and it appears that TLU SA’s concerns about him have already been confirmed within days.
TLU SA believes it is ridiculous that the ANC continues to recall circumstances from 111 years ago, which involved a completely different population composition and conditions of exclusion in South Africa at that time. “We can talk about wars and who killed and attacked whom, but there was no formal structure,” says Van Zyl. “Property rights were vested in the tribal chief, who granted usage rights to people at his discretion. Therefore, the story that people were deprived of their property rights is not entirely correct.”
TLU SA believes that if the ANC prides itself on being a non-racial nation and that it is now important for everyone to work together, as an agricultural organisation, we cannot cooperate if departments look at the agricultural community with malice, which has only made positive and constructive contributions to the country. The perspective presented by the department in this media statement is one-sided and once again promises a pot of gold.
It is also essential to report the success rate of new owners on agricultural properties. The question remains: If the “hunger” for land is satisfied and there is still no prosperity due to internal conflicts among claimants or the inability to cultivate and optimally use agricultural land, where will new promises be made, and what is next on the list to correct the so-called “injustices” of the past?
The time has come for a non-racial approach in agriculture, where every individual has equal access to land. Those who want to farm must be willing to step forward voluntarily, understanding that agriculture is not merely a short-term commitment or a supplement to income, but a lifelong calling. The era of settlers, ancestral rights, and preferences is long gone. The realities of agriculture and restoration now require rolling up sleeves and putting shoulders to the wheel. It’s about putting food on the table, and the government’s only responsibility should be to recognise property rights, create a safe climate, and promote a free market.
If the utilisation of agricultural land is lost, jobs will be lost, and the economic impact, which currently supports the growth of agriculture and the economy, will be negative. The reality will remain: Everyone has land, but no one has food. Hungry citizens cannot eat land; they need food.
