POLOKWANE – Government’s actions do not display a genuine sense of urgency or commitment towards the solution of the serious problems concerning the Restitution of Land Rights.

Government has also helped to contribute to a security risk in the agricultural sector, by raising expectations to an unrealistic degree and by allowing tensions over land tenure to simmer.

These facts were highlighted during a high-level meeting, called by the Chief Land Claims Commissioner in Polokwane, Mr M Mokono.

The meeting was attended by the MECs for Safety Security and Liaison and for Agriculture and Land Tenure, the Mayor of the Vhembe District Municipality, a representative of the Makhado Municipality, a representative of the Albasini Concerned Group, senior representatives of the Transvaal Agriculture Union of South Africa (TAU SA) and an independent strategist, Dr Chris Jordaan.

The meeting followed urgent representations made by Organized Agriculture, in the wake of a spate of violent attacks and murders which followed shortly after a confrontation between aggressive and unruly land claimants and land owners.

Mr Gideon Meiring, representing TAU SA and the majority of landowners in the Soutpansberg area, said a hostile climate against farmers is created deliberately, to single them out as “legitimate targets” for violent farm attacks. Further unnecessary harmful pressure is brought to bear on the farming community (and eventually on the entire economy) by highly controversial legislation and AgriBEE.

As a result of unnecessary official feet dragging, uncertainty is created, leading to a curtailing of development and expansion, which eventually leads to stagnation. By the time new black owners take over, the backlog and deterioration is already so immense that the farm is in fact no longer productive.

In evidence of government’s lack of genuine commitment, he stated that between 1994 and 1999 the state had never once spent the allocated funds for redistribution of land. During the past more than four years of the Mbeki era, 0,4% of the total budget was dedicated to land redistribution. This resulted in even foreign donors losing interest, due to the obvious lack of genuine urgency on the part of Government.

With the changeover from Minister Hanekom to Minister Didiza, project allocation reduced from 17,243 in 1999 to 5,692 in 2000. Physical transfers in the same period crashed from 14,250 to 1,513.

The haphazard handling of land claims by Government left unresolved claims and insecure landowners. In the meantime, a target date of 2005 has been set for the finalization of all land claims, forcing landowners to accept undesirable shortcuts because time is now running out.

“As far as we are concerned, this is nothing but deliberate fast tracking a la Zimbabwe,” Mr Meiring said.

Chaotic delays and tension are created because officials of the Land Claims Commissioner do not sort out the claims beforehand so that the bona fide claims can be processed. The entire agricultural sector is damaged by the negative effect of this unnecessary delay in the process.

The authorities, even President Mbeki himself on ANC Today, create expectations and then blame the slow progress on reluctant farmers and high land prices. They are joined by the Landless People Movement, and the National Lands Claim Commission who declare their impatience with “selfish farmers.” Blade Nzimande of the SACP also recently threatened farmers with “Zimbabwe-type action” if they do not speed up the process. Nkuzi Development Trust, together with a junior official of the commission, was reported to have joined a toyi-toying group in shouting slogans that the land belongs to the claimants and that they will simply come and grab it.

“In this way, a hostile climate is created against farmers who, as a result, are considered as ‘legitimate’ targets for farm attacks.”

Mr Meiring drew attention to the fact that thousands of Zimbabweans are still allowed to roam the area and are increasingly involved in violent crime.

“Large groups of armed criminals are allowed to move unhindered from as far as Tembisa and Midrand to commit violent acts against the local residents. Furthermore, uncoordinated movement of so-called land claimants – sometimes even accompanied by police – contribute to the security breakdown in the area.

“All these factor stress the importance of sustainable safety and security in our area.”

Mr Meiring said Organized Agriculture has already taken various steps to address the very serious situation. A survey was conducted to establish which farmers are eager to stay on and which ones want to offer their land and at what market-related price. Opportunists were also identified, who try to exploit the situation to the detriment of other farmers and the State.

“Our emphasis is on land which is sustainable on economical and security grounds. We are prepared to make all the land you need available immediately – if the money is available and payment is made immediately and if opportunists are removed from the equation.”

Mr Meiring also spelled out what action is needed from Government.

“You will have to make available the money to fund your needs. Get the process as well as the substance in place. Take one area at a time and go through it until total finality is reached (money is paid), before the next area is activated. Don’t raise high hopes or expectations with the claimants, and where claims are legal or well founded, make claimants understand that money or other land can be made available. Abandon the practice or tactics to go down the back way to entice or threaten individuals that they will be ‘boxed in’ or that they must ‘try Australia,’ because these actions place a question mark over the bona fides of the relevant authorities. Stop the tactic to try and corner or convince individuals with promises of unrealistically large amounts of money.”