State to Expropriate Kwazulu-Natal Farms


Business Day (Johannesburg)

November 4, 2005
Posted to the web November 4, 2005

Nicola Jenvey
Durban

The Lands Claims Commission has begun expropriation proceedings against about 60 northern KwaZulu-Natal farmers following a deadlock in negotiations over land values.

The move sounds warning bells to farmers government deems to be "greedy".

Chief land claims commissioner Tozi Gwanya said yesterday government would expropriate any land over which there existed a legitimate claim "regardless of the 'willing buyer, willing seller' principle".

The expropriations concern two claims in Gongolo and Gujini districts in KwaZulu-Natal, and are the first such measures taken in the province. The move follows the expropriation of a cattle farm belonging to Hannes Visser last month in North West.

Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka told the Land Summit in August that the government should revisit the "willing buyer, willing seller" principle.

The state was the only buyer, but farmers "often asked exorbitant prices for their land," she said.

Agriculture and Land Affairs Minister Thoko Didiza said the state should be allowed to influence how the markets worked.

Gwanya said yesterday the Gongolo land claim would expropriate 29000ha affecting 50-60 farmers. The current landowners "want the state to buy land as a game reserve in waiting" rather than agricultural land.

"Thus they dispute a professional valuation report, (resulting in a) deadlock in negotiations," he said.

AgriSA president Lourie Bosman accused Gwanya and the regional land claims commissioners of "wanting to test the waters on expropriation".

He said Didiza clearly had outlined that expropriation would be a last resort, but the commission was seeking to bypass the land claims courts when issues around claim validity and land prices hindered the restitution process.

Bosman also warned that the country potentially faced a flood of court cases should land be improperly expropriated.

The Gujini claim covered 6122 ha over eight farms.

Gwanya said the state had valued the land at R8,9m but the landowners demanded R12,6m. The commission has approached Didiza to recommend the expropriation.

Gwanya said the "last resort" option followed more than three years of negotiations after the minister had approved the settlement of the two claims in 2002.

"The commission has not been able to reach an amicable solution due to unrealistic expectations by parties concerned. This has led to serious frustration of land claimants," he said.


He warned that land reform was founded on the constitution and the rule of law and "requested all affected parties to respect the land reform processes".

Gwanya said the commission was committed to finalising outstanding land claims within three years. It had settled about 80% of the 79000 claims lodged. Nearly 950000ha has been restored to communities at a land cost of R2,1bn, while urban claimants have accepted R2,6bn in compensation.

Gee, what a surprise.

Gonna get worse

Just the beginning in South Africa of what we have seen going on in Africa since the 50's. I agree that it is going to get worse. This is the camel's nose under the tent in the RSA.

Well why wouldn't they?

They've got such a fine example of how well this works and the positive effects it has on the economy from Zimbabwe.

It just baffels the mind, these people are just plain stupid!

Where the hell is the hollywood crowd who helped put these comunist dictaters in power now?

Busy readying their support for Hillary I'd guess...

Don't worry AIDS will make it right!

just seems as these people are uncapable of governing themselves