david mabuza land reform

Deputy President David Mabuza / File photo

Land expropriation: Deputy President David Mabuza does damage control

“The land reform processes that we are undertaking poses no direct threat to the agriculture sector and the economy as a whole.” – David Mabuza

david mabuza land reform

Deputy President David Mabuza / File photo

In the wake of US President Donald Trump’s statement on the South African land expropriation issue, Deputy President David Mabuza has stepped in to try and restore calm.

Mabuza addressed a conference organised by Landbouweekblad and AgriSA in Bela-Bela, Limpopo, and assured farmers that they will be protected within the due process of land reform.

As reported by News24, the deputy president took the opportunity to allay fears amongst landowners emanating from threatening exchange, which took place between President Cyril Ramaphosa and Freedom Front Plus leader, Pieter Groenewald, at yesterday’s National Assembly meeting.

Mabuza says the agricultural sector is secure

Mabuza maintained that any action relating to land reform will be confined to Constitutional mechanisms and that farmers should not fear the impending prospect of land expropriation without compensating, saying:

“As the leadership of the ANC and government, we are clear that the implementation of land reform measures must not result in social fractures and racial polarisation.

The land reform processes that we are undertaking poses no direct threat to the agriculture sector and the economy as a whole.”

In reference to Trump’s statements regarding land seizures and the killing of white farmers in South Africa, Mabuza urged farmers not to let their emotions be directed by fear-mongering, saying:

“We would like to discourage those who are using this sensitive and emotive issue of land to divide us as South Africans by distorting our land reform measures to the international community and spreading falsehoods that our ‘white farmers’ are facing the onslaught from their own government. This is far from the truth.”

Threats of resistance to land reform

Groenewald brought up the pertinent issue of resistance to land reform, by saying to Ramaphosa:

“They [farmers] are not going to give up their land willingly.”

This comment was made during the president’s parliamentary address, and the mention of farmer resistance brought the house into disrepute. When calm was eventually restored, Ramaphosa replied:

“You can make your choice. If you don’t want stability, then don’t transform. But if you want stability, then you must transform, and we must work together so it leads to development, and gives us stability.”