UN Minority Rights Forum in UN Geneva UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL FORUM ON MINORITY ISSUES Geneva Switzerland 25.26 November 2014 Presented by: Andre Fourie – Freedom Front Plus South Africa Our request is that this Forum on Minority Issues takes note of the disastrous process of land re-distribution since 1994, the reopening of land claims in 2014 and the myth that land was stolen from black people by white farmers in South Africa all of which negatively impacts on crucial food production and security, economic growth, and the prosperity to the entire South African nation. Furthermore – that this Forum on Minority Issues takes cognisance of the fact that: Since the introduction of land re-distribution in 1994 the approximately 120 000 productive commercial farmers in South Africa were reduced to a mere 36 000. More alarming is the fact that 95% of South Africas food is produced by these 36 000 commercial farmers and only 5% by the 220 000 emerging and 1.3 million subsistence farmers; 80 000 claims were lodged since 1994 up to 1998 of which 59 000 of the valid 77 000 claims were settled at a cost of R25.2 billion of which a large percentage consisted of cash payments rather than land settlements. There are still 8 471 of these claims not yet finalised; Despite vehement objections from various quarters President JG Zuma formally signed the Restitution of Land Rights Amendment Act into law on Monday 30 June 2014 (Gazette No 37791, 01 July 2014, Vol 589) which provides for the re-opening of the lodgement of land claims over a period of five years. The South African government’s own calculation is that 397 000 new land claims will be received which will cost taxpayers approximately R179 billion; The ideological political propaganda which seeks to bolster emotional support relies on the misleading myth that based on Histo-Geo-Political facts the white farmers stole the land from black people which is vehemently rejected with the contempt it deserves. There is sufficient proof that land was either negotiated, bartered or bought after stringent negotiations stretching from 1652 to 1913; This type of ideological political propaganda creates a climate for conflict and enhances ‘land grabbing ala-Zimbabwe’ which already reared its head in isolated cases in the provinces of Kwazulu-Natal and Gauteng which can lead to the complete destabilization in South Africa and for the commercial famers in particular. (Attached a synopsis of the land-redistribution and re-opening of land claims process as well as a Histo-Geo-Political overview of South Africa’s land problem) Therefore, we, the FREEDOM FRONT PLUS of South Africa, together with other registered South African participants – Once again voice our sincere concern about land being used as a political tool by the South African government, and the continuous shift in goal posts which will bring greater uncertainty in an already uncertain political and farming environment. Request this Forum on Minority Issues and the General Secretary of UN to take on board our concerns about the reopening of Land Claims in South Africa and the resultant negative impact on the farming community and other minority communities on the future of land ownership and food security in South Africa. FREEDOM FRONT PLUS SOUTH AFRICA Andre Fourie - with Johanna Stuijt VanDokkum
Posted on: Thu, 27 Nov 2014 01:00:38 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015