TLU SA reviews its achievements during 2019 with gratitude. 14
“We have deep gratitude for the mercy we have received from God Almighty this year. It is the foundation of TLU SA’s future,” says Mr Louis Meintjes, the president of TLU SA. “In 2019, we revisited and confirmed our values and principles.”
With input from other institutions, TLU SA rigorously investigated the direction agriculture in South Africa should take. The conclusion is that the values the organisation honours are indeed the correct way to ensure the continued existence of commercial agriculture in South Africa.
The organisation hopes to see more like-minded organisations supporting this direction while taking a firm stand against the ANC’s transformation agenda.
“The concept of black economic empowerment (BEE) was doomed to failure since its inception,” says Mr Meintjes. “TLU SA was the only organisation in the agricultural value chain who has not supported BEE from the outset. In practice, it is now evident that the current approach to empowerment is an abject failure and should be reconsidered.
“Twelve years ago, for instance, TLU SA asked why the residents of RDP-houses don’t receive the title deeds to their houses. Today these people are still sitting with the dead capital of houses which don’t legally belong to them. If they own the title deeds, they could put up their homes as collateral do start a business, for example.
“It appears that the ANC is actively working toward keeping South Africans imprisoned in poverty,” says Mr Meintjes.
During 2019 TLU SA initiated collaboration with various institutions. It is the organisation’s approach to co-operate with other organisations that share TLU SA’s fundamental beliefs regarding specific issues. For that reason, TLU SA is part of the Ad hoc Group for the Protection of Property Rights, where the economic principle of private ownership is concerned. TLU SA disagrees with some of the role players regarding other aspects, but on the issues we are in agreement on, we co-operate to increase our influence.
TLU SA’s message of 2019 is one of positivity. Since January this year, more than 2 350 new members joined the organisation. Its members contribute to better communication of our message to a broader audience.
“TLU SA builds for the future, with the full realisation that it is done within a very negative environment currently,” says Mr Meintjes. “We foresee an ever increasing number of role players reaching out to work with us in the interest of a better future for South Africa. TLU SA is willing to work with any relevant role player who shares our entrenched and solid foundation in creating that future.”