Enige bespiegelinge oor grond wat deur boere aan plaaswerkers afgestaan moet word, is voortydig en kan net lei tot verwarring. “Die Minister van Landelike Ontwikkeling en Grondhervorming het duidelik gestel dat hy teen April 2015 voorstelle oor die aangeleentheid wil kry. Verskeie prosesse in die verband is nog aan die gang, so laat ons daarby hou,” sê TLU SA se President, mnr. Louis Meintjes.
Mnr. Meintjes het ‘n beroep gedoen op instansies en individuele boere om nie voortydig met bepaalde beloftes of ondernemings in dié verband na vore te kom nie. “Die Minister het aangedui dat hy ‘n gesamentlike voorlegging van die landbou-eenheidsforum, ASUF, sou wou ontvang. ASUF werk nog hieraan. Net soos TLU SA ook reeds sy reeds bekende voorstelle oor grondhervorming aan ASUF voorgelê het, sou ons graag wil sien dat alle instansies en individue, ook hulle gedagtes oor die saak aan ASUF sou wou voorlê vir verdere bespreking.
“Om halsoorkop verbintenisse te maak dat boere 20% van hulle grond moet afstaan, is nie so maklik nie. Die een skoen pas nie vir almal nie. Groter boere kan so iets moontlik makliker implementeer terwyl kleiner boere glad nie daarby kan uitkom nie. Hier sal ‘n model en oplossing gevind moet word wat almal sal pas. Om voortydig aankondigings en beloftes te maak, sal ook by die Minister valse verwagtinge skep. Landbou het stabiliteit nodig, wat net bereik sal word deur gesamentlike, wel deurdagte en ekonomies volhoubare besluite en optrede. Laat daardie proses asseblief toe om sy kringloop te voltooi,” vra mnr. Meintjes.
Be cautious for early expectations regarding land
Any speculation on land to be surrendered by farmers to farm workers is premature and can only lead to more confusion. “The Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform has it made clear that he expects proposals on this matter to be submitted by April 2015. Various processes in this regard are still in progress, so let’s stick to the ministers’ deadline,” said TAU SA President, Mr. Louis Meintjes.
Mr. Meintjes urged institutions and individual farmers not to confuse matters more by prematurely coming forward with certain promises or undertakings in this regard. “The Minister has indicated that he expects a joint submission from the Agricultural Sector Unity Forum (ASUF). ASUF is still working on it. We would like to see that all institutions and individuals to submit their thoughts on the matter to ASUF for further discussion, like TAU SA already has done.
“It is not that easy to make commitments on behalf of farmers to transfer 20% of their land to farm workers. One shoe does not fit for everyone. Larger farmers may find it easier to implement this, while small farmers may find it impossible to do without putting themselves at risk. A model and solution must be found that will suit everyone. To issue premature announcements and promises will create even more expectations. Agriculture needs stability which could only be achieved through joint, duly considered and economically sustainable decisions and actions. Let that process finish its cycle,” asks Mr. Meintjes.
