MEC in appeal for cooperation on land reform

JUST and equitable transference of land ownership for all parties concerned is what is needed to take land reform forward in the country.

This is the viewpoint of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane, who received a standing ovation after putting the thorny issue into perspective at an agricultural meeting yesterday.

At the Macadamia Summit in East London, Qoboshiyane said that a farm outside East London was a prime example of a community, private and government partnership and the type of solution needed for the province of the Eastern Cape to go forward.

The farm is owned by the community and leased to Ncera Macadamia Farming (Pty) Ltd , of which the community also has a 51% shareholding through a community trust.

Qoboshiyane said the country was at a crossroads, with people willing to go to war over land ownership.

"We must not be reckless on land reform and must be reminded that we are a just country with a constitution. The land [ownership] must be shared by those who work on it – both black and white," Qoboshiyane said.

Although Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti was expected as a summit speaker, Qoboshiyane said he was representing the minister, who received huge criticism for his proposal whereby 50% of ownership of farm land should be transferred to farm workers.

"People are attacking an individual [minister] but it is about redistribution and land reform and its implications. We are far short of our land reform targets," Qoboshiyane said.

"However, we need to protect food security and the constitution and law of our country."

Taking a swipe at the Economic Freedom Fighters, to loud applause Qoboshiyane said people could not just form political parties to make land reform go quicker.

"There is a lot of marching going on, at legislatures and in the streets ... They need to take those gumboots and overalls and go to the fields to produce some food,"Qoboshiyane said.

He also warned that overseas investors were watching the negative image of disorganisation being portrayed of the country.

On the willing buyer, willing seller method used so far by the government, the MEC said this was not working and that deep and serious thought was needed and that the private sector and government needed to find a middle ground to make land reform happen.

The Wild Coast belt was identified by Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism MEC Sakhumzi Somyo as the next area of expansion for the macadamia project.

Meanwhile, Green Farms Nut Company chief executive Jill Whyte, who co-founded the Ncera macadamia project, said South Africa was the biggest supplier of macadamia nuts worldwide, and there was huge potential.

"We are already the market leaders with seven million trees and we plan to double production in the next seven years," Whyte said. - Cindy Preller