The Chairpersons Association of Makhado (Louis Trichardt) is concerned that the manner in which the land reform is being handled will contribute to the increase of poverty in the province.

The income generated by agriculture and tourism in the province declined by 6% last year, while tourism showed a great growth in other provinces.

“Limpopo is currently the second poorest province after the Northwest Province. The land claims commissioner handles the land-reform process with a one-eyed approach and does not think of the long-term consequences when agriculture and tourism are handled incorrectly,” said Mr André Naudé, Chairperson of the CA. The CA advised that the restitution process and the implementation thereof be approached in a holistic manner, inclusive of all stakeholders, and that the results be achieved in a result-driven and transparent manner. The process should protect and develop value to the farmers (landowners), land claimants, emerging farmers, labourers and all stakeholders.

“It should not be forgotten that many of the farmers are also involved in the hospitality business and their unconditional removal will have a seriously adverse effect on agriculture and tourism. Agriculture and tourism are the backbone of the economy in the Limpopo,” said Naudé.

Naudé also revealed some alarming statistics at a recent symposium held at the University of Venda. It boiled down to the fact that the current handling of the land restitution process may well set the region back a hundred years. There are 2 915 farmers in the province registered for VAT as per the census of 2002. These farmers create job opportunities for plus minus 101 249 employees. In normal terms, these labourers maintain family members of up to 600 000 people. These farms create value to the amount of R4.5 billion per annum.

“If this is multiplied by eight in order to establish the value created for each rand spent, then the total amount that is generated directly and indirectly by the said farmers, amounts to R34 billion per annum. If the land restitution process is not implemented according to a proper plan with consideration for all the socio-economic circumstances, then we are going to create a vacuum where R34 billion per annum will be lost to this region, as well as 101 249 job opportunities on a permanent basis,” said Naudé. He indicated that the province would not be able to survive that kind of outflow of money and expertise.

The CA further pleaded for a panel to be set up, to be assisted by professional people, involving all stakeholders in order to design an implementation strategy for each individual area. Mediators and arbitrators should be appointed to deal with the merits and to decide on all processes to be followed, as well as the implementation process. An independent panel of valuers, as agreed upon by the stakeholders involved in each group of farms, should be set up in order to give guidelines in a transparent manner so as to avoid disputes and delays about the value of farms. These processes can be monitored by a panel of independent auditors, lawyers and valuers, as well as land claimants, landowners, members of the land claims commissioner, as well as members of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Industry, Finance, as well as the Receiver of Revenue.