They’re especially concerned about the removal of the clause that gives the lessee first option to purchase a farm. Victor Moagi, executive council member of the National Emergent Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (Nerpo) and a North West farmer himself, said this doesn’t give the lessee any rights at all.
“This only gives their comrades access to farms,” he added.“There is a voetstoots clause that exonerates the state from the responsibility of handing over farmable farms to the lessees.” He said farmers aren’t reimbursed for improvements they’ve done on the farm when they’re kicked off. Farmers called on the government to ensure that, in the implementation of the land-reform programme, farmers receive farms with adequate infrastructure.
They also said government should not limit its support to those farmers who acquire land through the land-redistribution programmes. Instead, the state should extend support to emerging farmers who take the initiative and acquire farms using their own resources.
