On the eve of the State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2020, TLU SA reflected – from an agricultural viewpoint – on which plans would be in the best interest of South Africans. With that in mind, TLU SA penned a 20-point plan which a responsible government could implement to make the country a success again.
TLU SA’s 20-point plan for South Africa 2020:
- Recruit and settle new commercial entrants to agriculture, under the age of 45;
- Create new agricultural opportunities;
- Establish syndicates and other farming models where knowledge and capacity can be combined and applied for the sake of higher profitability;
- Reinstate law and order so farmers can use their skills and focus attention to the maximum for farming purposes;
- Implement a comprehensive free-market system with property rights at the core;
- Implement a disaster relief plan in support of all farmers in South Africa;
- Give farmers unrestricted access to international markets to earn essential foreign currency for the country;
- Acknowledge agriculture as a crucial component of the economy, by preventing agriculture from becoming a tool for political gain or obsolete ideologies;
- Invest and improve infrastructure so farmers can deliver their produce to markets effectively, be it by road or rail;
- Put an end to forced, undefined and never-ending transformation, including the sunset clause for the discriminating system of obligatory black economic empowerment and so-called affirmative action;
- Rekindle the trust of local and international investors thus enabling farmers can access financing from recognised financial institutions without difficulty;
- Improve the functioning of government institutions so that agriculture could be assured of the support of local authorities and government departments, staffed by competent and corruption-free officials, irrespective of race or gender;
- Create a compelling value chain where all roleplayers are responsible for accepting the risk, just as they all share in the profits;
- Protect and manage water resources to ensure efficient water of good quality for agriculture, with higher storage capacity and no pollution for the sake of food security;
- Amend the regulating of labour to make employment possible with a mutual agreement of wage and affordable quality training, where labourers will contribute optimal production;
- Support rural economies and service delivery, thus enabling schools and businesses to offer services to the local community;
- Implement effective border control, effective management of Vito sanitary and illegal immigrants, to enhance safety and reduce pressure on local resources like food, water and housing;
- Create a trustworthy and affordable power supplier, irrespective of it being state- or privately owned;
- Invest in mother tongue education at school and tertiary level; and
- Manage urbanisation so farmers operating on prime agricultural land are disadvantaged.
“Looking back the ANC government has done very poorly in keeping their promises of last year and the years before,” says Mr Louis Meintjes, the president of TLU SA. “The ANC’s dreams for South Africa have turned into a nightmare.
“TLU SA is not in the position to utilise state resources in the interest of South Africans, but the government is,” says Mr Meintjes. “The ball is now in your hands Mr Ramaphosa. The economy is sitting on the edge of its seat during this game.
“But, to continue on this road of proven unsuccessful ideologies will only give rise to poverty and unemployment. You should not be proud of the direction your legacy is taking. Do the right things, and you might be surprised by its success.”
