Some 900 farmers from all over the Free State attended the public hearing on the draft Expropriation Bill in Bethlehem to convey their objections. Free State agriculture president Louw Steytler was one of the farmers who addressed the Portfolio Committee on Public Works in the Bethlehem City Hall on 2 June. “Any Zanu-fication of agriculture in South Africa will have disastrous effects on food security,” he warned.
“Land is the single most important factor to ensure sufficient food supplies in the country and any interference in land ownership will, without a doubt, impact negatively on the country.” Free State agriculture submitted a comprehensive document with objections to the Portfolio committee.
The union is particularly concern about issues such as the proper definition of a legal entity and the calculation of compensation below market price, and about the fact that municipalities will be given the power to expropriate land through the Bill. Limited access to the courts is also worrying.
Nearly 900 petitions from farmers against the Bill were also handed to the committee. “Whatever the government says, we will have to refer the issue to the Constitutional Court,” said Steytler. “This is partly because the government cannot be trusted since Mbeki took over. The Bill as it stands is terrifying.” – Annelie Coleman
