POLOKWANE – The present chaos in the land reform process forms part of a combined effort to commit financial genocide against the white African minority in South Africa. The lack of appropriate SAPS action and the simultaneous scrapping of the commando system, seem to tie in with this unacceptable strategy.

This serious allegation is contained in a media statement in which Government is taken to task for alleged hidden political agendas in what is labelled as unconstitutional discrimination and a serious lack of responsible planning in the land reform issue.

The chairperson of the TAU-SA Northern Region, Mr Dries Joubert, says the lack of proper planning is responsible for the current chaos in the land reform process. He says that, after many years, proof of the legality of the Levubu land claims is still outstanding. Mr Joubert says that many farms were offered to the government for the land reform process, but nothing has been done. This seriously undermines trust in the government, which is either unable due to incompetence, or unwilling to handle the Levubu claims. He expressed concern that it seems to be a tactic of the ANC government to victimize and intimidate landowners in this way.

Serious attention is needed to plan for the resettlement of farmers who lost their land due to successful land claims and for the welfare of the about 110 000 farm workers in the Limpopo who are to be affected by the same process.

Mr Joubert says it is time that Government fulfils its constitutional obligation to treat all citizens equally. He proposed that a plan for the resettlement of farmers be developed as soon as possible.

He said if government is serious about the welfare of farm workers in Limpopo, resettlement of farm workers should be a priority.

“At the moment, as in Zimbabwe, farm workers are left in the cold during the land reform process.

“Little has been done to investigate the financial, tax and VAT implications of the land reform process. It seems as if this lack of planning forms part of the policy of the ANC to commit financial genocide against the white African minority. Tax implications and the fact that land owners might have to pay 40% tax on payment received for land under claims, retrenchment packages for farm workers to be paid by the farmer and the fact that the farm will not be sold as a going concern, is obviously an attempt to ensure that this group will never be able to recover financially.

“Constant threats of lawlessness from the ANC family organizations such as the SACP, SANCO and COSATU should not be tolerated. The lack of action on the side of Government against such lawless invasions is reason for serious concern,” Mr Joubert said.

Mr Joubert called on the MEC for Agriculture in Limpopo to prove the good intentions of government in the current chaotic land reform process. Proper planning and detailed impact studies is one way to begin to stop the current chaos.