He said Agri SA’s engagement was an example to other organisations representing civil society. Consensus is not always possible but dialogue should lead to more acceptable outcomes, and the Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform Gugile Nkwinti, would be willing to consider reasonable proposals on land reform, said Mantashe.
Agri SA considered the current land reform proposals as unworkable and said the state should rather pursue and support voluntary schemes which could yield better results at a much lower cost.
Dan Kriek, deputy president of Agri SA, told Farmer’s Weekly that limitations of landholdings and the 50/50 farm-sharing proposals are confusing and undermine confidence.
Kriek said bilateral talks would follow. If government however do not make concessions then the courts will have to decide, but he stipulated that this route is the absolute last resort.
The 50/50 sharing proposal by Nkwinti proposes that 50% of a farm is ceded to workers. Government will pay for the 50% but the money will not go to the farmer, but into an investment fund that would reinvest into the farm or pay those who want to opt out of the transaction.
Agri SA has been working closely with a governmental task team that advised government on the implementation of the National Development Plan proposals, including rural development and land reform.
