Posted on 08/13/2006 7:52:24 PM PDT by Marius3188
The South African government has told white farmers that they risk losing their farms if they fail to agree a selling price within six months.
The Agriculture and Land Affairs Minister, Lulu Xingwana, said the deadline was necessary to speed up the transfer of farms to black people who were forcibly removed from their land under apartheid.
The transfers are part of a government programme to get 30% of farmland in black hands by 2014.
Land reform is one of the most emotive and politically charged issues in South Africa.
And returning land seized from black farmers during apartheid was of the key promises made by the African National Congress when it came to power in 1994.
Slow progress
More than 10 years on, only 4% of land has been transferred and the government is under fire for going too slowly.
The problem, ministers say, is that it is taking too long to negotiate with white farmers over the price of land.
Now, for the first time, the government has set a time limit on talks - it will negotiate for six months and no more. After that, land could be expropriated.
The challenge for the ruling ANC is to keep the promises it has made while avoiding the violence that has surrounded land reform in neighbouring Zimbabwe - where it helped bring about the collapse of the country's highly profitable agricultural sector.
Difficult task
But it is a hugely complex process.
One problem is sorting out competing claims over the same piece of land.
Families removed from farms generations ago often do not have documents. Family trees have to be constructed to see who is entitled to a share.
And if black farmers are allocated land, but not given enough capital to develop it, then agricultural production could fall.
But whatever the short-term costs, advocates of land reform say the longer-term risks of political instability are much higher if the issue is not tackled faster.
Already, grievances over land have led to violence in some areas.
South Africa following the Mozambique model. Stand by for urgent requests to aid the starving in SA.
Following the lead of Mugabe.
Any white farmers who stuck around should have seen the handwriting on the wall long ago....Another African nation
that will end up on the edge of starvation.
Oops. I meant Zimbabwe.
Following the great example set by Zimbabwe, I see. Insanity can be defined as doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result.
Yes, this worked so well in Zimbabwe. Some days it seems as if there is no hope for the human race.
L
"After that, land could be expropriated."
Just a little whiff of the ANC in this comment. Mandela's true colors are shining through.
I hope that our otherwise compassionate and giving community will think twice, thrice, four times before giving any charitable contributions to help the future starving children of South Africa.
Giving money to starving children in Africa is like giving money to homeless crack addicts in San Francisco.
It only exacerbates the problem.
Namibia next.
Looks like the commies are in full force in S. Africa... the FIFA (soccer) should think twice about having their showcase event in S.A. in 2010.
MASS DARWIN AWARD IN THE MAKING...!
Isn't this situation vastly different than Zimbabwe? I mean, in this case, from the article at least, it sounds like the property was wrongly taken in the first place. Secondly, the current farmers are being paid off decently. I don't recall Mugabe doing that...
The stab in the back this country gave to South Africa in the 1980s should never be forgotten. Congress imposed, over a Reagan veto, sanctions on behalf of a communist party. (ANC) South Africa is now on the path of Zimbabwe and they will no doubt have similar 'achievements' in the future. Another example of democracy being given to those not ready for it.
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