Posted on 07/03/2007 1:00:04 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
JOHANNESBURG – Government will not rest until most of the land is in the hands of black owners. This is according to Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs Lulu Xingwana, who was reacting to recent parliamentary questions.
“Land reform remains a constitutional mandate,” she said.
“Once all the restitution claims have been settled and the redistribution target of 30% has been met, there will still be a need to improve on the ratio of 70% of agricultural land owned by whites and 30% by blacks, until land ownership in the country reflects its demographics in terms of race and gender.”
There might also be a need to examine the extent to which land is equitably distributed to address the needs of the most needy – irrespective of race, she said.
“In addition, the Department of Land Affairs will have to continue to ensure the security of tenure of land rights, especially with regard to the rights of persons or communities living on commercial farmland and communal areas in the former homelands and South African Development Trust areas.
But DA spokesman on land affairs, Maans Nel, believes the Minister’s calculations are “not a true reflection of reality”.
“The Minister forgets that 18 million hectares of land are already owned by black people in South Africa,” he said yesterday.
“This land is owned communally in the former homelands, as well as by the South African Development Trust.
“If the 30% target is reached by 2014, thereby placing 25 million hectares of land in the hands of black owners, the correct total percentages will be that 43% of land will be owned by black people, while 57% will be in white hands.”
“It is furthermore worrying that government’s land reform attempts do not necessarily focus on enhancing the productive capacity of the land.
“Food security is currently ensured by our commercial farmers and land reform should never be carried out in a manner that compromises that security,” he said.
He also warned that hampered food production would firstly harm the most vulnerable of South Africans, including those whom land reform was aimed at empowering.
Good to know that the government isn’t racist.
Remember once the Bolsheviks took over in Russia, they claimed they would distribute the land to the peasants.
Of course, the whole time they were intent on taking away all private lands and collectivizing it.
Women and children hurt most? Onward-- to Equality...no matter how many starve!
Zimbabwe II. They will begin to go hungry soon after the transfer is complete.
Another wonderful place swirling the drain, I give it ten years and they will be no better than any other African cesspool. If the muzzies get a foothold there then the place will become unlivable for decent people forever I think.
The real meltdown in South Africa won’t begin until Mandela dies. I fully believe that his presence is the only thing that keeps SA from going Zimbabwe.
Africa is a rat hole. Stop flushing money down the rat hole.
I had to laugh out loud at that. Funny, sad, and true.
Sounds like free land for the Katrina victims if they want it. If he FEMA trailers are making them so unhappy...
Oh great...then South Africans can starve with their Zimbabwe neighbors.
We have the same logic going on in this country.
Witness the caterwauling over the recent SCOTUS decision on Race as a determining factor in schools decision.
To infinity... and Beyond! /Buzz Lightyear
Race, and gender?
So he wants over half of their agricultural land to be owned by women? Why?
Q: What is the difference between Zimbabwe and South Africa?
A: About 10 years
Most of the land to go to blacks, most of the investments and skilled workers (white and black) to flee abroad.
the same thing is happening in California.
That’s OK.
I have two really good new engineers from SA on the payroll.
Their loss is our gain.
Kinda gives new meaning to the phrase; “eat dirt”
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