While I support President Cyril Ramaphosa’s stance on land expropriation without compensation, let us not chase away white farmers. Land reform in SA is possible, and could have positive economic effects — such as creating millions of job opportunities for our brothers and sisters in the agricultural sector. However, this will require the government and land beneficiaries to work hand in hand with white commercial farmers to realise the benefits. Although it gives me no joy reading about the ANC’s many failed examples of land reform policy, this is a reality. Coming from the rural areas of Limpopo, I have seen land that has been taken away from successful farmers employing locals in their thousands and given back to the rightful owners, leading to significant job losses. One example of the ANC’s failed land reform policy is the Makgoba Tea Estate (previously known as Sapekoe Tea Estate) near Tzaneen. Before the land reforms, Sapekoe employed about 3,000 workers, but now it features ...
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