Möller fed-up with ANC ‘ideals’

South Africa has a typically
African government, high on ideals for the peoples’ benefit and low on fiscal discipline and actual delivery, says Johannes Möller, president of Agri SA.
He was speaking to farmers in De Doorns in the Western Cape, at their recent Table Grape Block competition. Möller said government’s attempt to use agriculture as a social upliftment tool is unrealistic. “Agriculture contributes 2% to 3% of our gross domestic product (GDP),” explained Möller. “It can’t be used to better the lives of 20% to 30% of the population.”
Möller was adamant on Agri SA’s stance on further expropriation legislation. He said recent media statements claiming Agri SA wouldn’t get involved in legal action against the government were untrue. Agri SA is prepared to defend agricultural property rights at any cost, as more than R150 billion-worth of land in private ownership was at stake, he said.
“No matter what the legal cost, we will fight unfair legislation with regards to land reform,” he promised. He said Agri SA would also be prepared to join group legal action and shoulder its part of the costs, but wouldn’t be prepared to be the leading party, as they wouldn’t have control over the legal team and line of argument.
Möller criticised the ANC’s election manifesto regarding agriculture as lacking vision and as ignorant of South Africa’s agricultural role in the continent.
“Pouring money into a land-reform programme that’s actually impoverishing people can only be described as idiotic,” added Möller. – Wouter Kriel