Are south african farmers trying to get rid of their farms before they are taken over and are in a rush to sell them?
If I were in their shoes, I would be quietly liquidating assets and moving capital out of Southern Africa.
I am sure that Afrikaaners are seeing South Africa's future writ large in Zimbabe.
They have seen the destruction of Zim agriculture and they are seeing the volkerwanderung that is taking place, spreading out from the locus of the farm worker displacements to displacements throughout Zimbabwe and impacting on the economy of South Africa.
They have seen Mbeki's failure to protest the farm invasions, including the invasion of farms owned by South Africans and his condonation of thuggery, rape and murder.
They have seen farm invasions in Namibia and South Africa which, although not presently condoned by government, are at least incited by politicians.
They have seen literate and influential blacks cheering on Mugabe's antics, hailing him as another Chaka.
Zimbabwe is at most 2 decades ahead of South Africa (JanL says one decade).
If Tutu should die or should cease to be influential, the events will accelerate as he is providing a moral brake.