EWC is a nail in the economy’s coffin

Agri SA will continue to pursue all credible avenues to protect the interests of farmers and farming communities, including challenging an amendment of section 25 in court. Yesterday’s decision by parliament is not the final step in the process, and there is time and legal remedies remaining to halt an amendment.

“The protection of property rights is absolutely critical to investment, food security and indeed sustainable agrarian reform,” said Annelize Crosby, Agri SA Head: Land. “It is neither desirable, nor necessary to amend section 25 of the Constitution. Agri SA maintains that very negative consequences may follow any major change to section 25. This includes the negative impact on land values that in turn endangers production finance to commercial and emerging farmers.”

Agri SA has been active in various fora to make its position known, and has presented its position to parliament, government officials, political parties and members of the international diplomatic community. Agri SA is also part the Presidential Advisory Panel to bring workable solutions to the table.

Agri SA remains committed to its stated position of opposing amendments to the Constitution to allow for expropriation without compensation (EWC).

“We are at a critical juncture in our history with regards to the land question and we urgently have to deal with the aspirations as well as the fears of all South Africans regarding this sensitive matter,” said Dan Kriek, Agri SA President. “A line has been drawn in the sand and Agri SA will do everything in its power to protect the interest of producers.”

OSV is ‘n spyker in die ekonomie se doodskis

Agri SA sal voortgaan om alle moontlike weë te ondersoek om die belange van boere en die boerdery gemeenskap te beskerm, insluitend om die wysiging van artikel 25 in die hof te beveg. Vandag se besluit deur die parlement is nie die einde van die pad nie; daar is steeds tyd en regsremedies om die wysiging te stop.

“Die beskerming van eiendomsreg is absoluut krities vir beleggings, voedselsekerheid en volhoubare landelike hervorming,” sê Omri van Zyl, Agri SA uitvoerende direkteur. “Dit is nie wenslik of nodig om artikel 25 van die Grondwet te verander nie. Agri SA hou vol dat daar negatiewe gevolge sal wees indien daar ‘n wysiging is. Dit sluit in die negatiewe impak op grondwaardes, wat produksie-finansiering aan kommersiële en opkomende boere drasties in gedrang bring.”

Agri SA was op verskeie forums aktief om sy standpunt bekend te maak en het dié standpunt aan die parlement, regeringsamptenare, politieke partye en lede van die internasionale diplomatieke gemeenskap voorgelê. Agri SA is ook deel van die President se adviespaneel om werkbare oplossings na die tafel te bring.

Agri SA bly verbind tot sy verklaarde standpunt teen wysigings aan die Grondwet om vir onteiening sonder vergoeding (OSV) voorsiening te maak.

“Ons is op ‘n kritieke tydstip in ons geskiedenis ten opsigte van die grondvraagstuk en ons moet dringend aandag aan die aspirasies en vrese van alle Suid-Afrikaners oor hierdie sensitiewe saak gee,” sê Dan Kriek, Agri SA President. “Die lyn is in die sand getrek en Agri SA sal alles in syvermoë doen om produsente se belange te beskerm.”