Date: 12/11/2002
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: Van Schalkwyk: Address at the NCOP
SPEECH BY WESTERN CAPE PREMIER, MARTHINUS VAN SCHALKWYK, SPEAKING IN THE NCOP DEBATE ON THE ANNUAL ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT, Cape Town, 12 November 2002
The pessimists are saying that South Africa will become another Zimbabwe, but we know that South Africa will be a success. The pessimists are saying that relations between our different communities are deteriorating and will continue to worsen. They take great pleasure in widely and loudly predicting the end of our Rainbow Nation. We know though, that there are enough leaders of character and quality, from every community in South Africa, to do what must be done to build our common future, and to again prove the pessimists wrong.
Land Reform
One of the most pressing challenges confronting South Africa in our quest to succeed is the burning question of land and land reform. We have heard the Honourable President talking this afternoon about poverty alleviation and sustainable economic development.
Our approach to land reform must be driven by the principles of sustainability, transparency and responsibility. It must aim to protect private property and at the same time to extend land ownership to those who have previously been denied access.
Since 1999, the Department of Land Affairs with the cooperation of farmers, has been able to deliver more than 1,1 million hectares of formerly private land for redistribution, as well as another 1,2 million hectares of state agricultural land.
Government's target of redistributing 30% of all agricultural land in South Africa by 2015, and the fact that R323 million has been put aside for land reform and restitution over the next three years, should be welcomed by all and deserves our collective support.
As the Government of the Western Cape we are critically aware of how important it is for us to broaden the base of those communities who benefit from economic growth. More people from more communities need to feel the power of economic change - particularly in the agricultural sector. Our plan is to settle 7000 new emerging farmers from the coloured and black communities, in addition to the 11 000 existing white commercial farmers, as soon as possible through the 150 Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development projects registered in the province. This will be done in close partnership with Agri-Western Cape, the organised body of commercial farmers. Agri-Western Cape continues to play a very positive and constructive role in land reform in our province.
The story of successful land reform in South Africa is the story of men and women like Mr Trevor Abrahams. Last year under the land reform programme in the Western Cape, Mr Abrahams was settled on 18 hectares of land in the Warm Bokkeveld near Ceres. Operating under the name Trevor's Boerdery, and with the help and mentorship of Mr Robert Graaff of the nearby farm Lushof, Mr Abrahams planted peaches and butternuts for the export market, and also other crops for sale locally. This year he aims to produce carrots for the Taiwanese market. Mr Abrahams is an example of how South African men and women, given the opportunity, will make a success of meaningful land reform.
Northridge Farms, also outside of Ceres, provides another example of land reform which has worked. One year after facing unemployment Mr Paul Onrust and the workers of Northridge Farms have celebrated their first year as 100% shareholders with a profit of R1, 3 million on a turnover of R7, 9 million. With hard work and dedication to making a success of their opportunities the people of Northridge have shown us all what can be accomplished. Madame Chairperson, both Mr Trevor Abrahams and Mr Paul Onrust, as well as Mr Kosie Loubser and Mr Frans LeRoux of Agri-Western Cape, are in the public gallery today, and I would like to acknowledge their presence and their achievements as representatives of a much wider land reform programme which is working.
Moratorium on Agricultural Land Tax
One of the focus areas of the President's speech today was the role of local government in poverty alleviation. Sadly it is at the level of local government that one of the most problematic issues, with the potential to undo much of the good, which has been done in land reform, arises: the issue of an agricultural land tax.
It is quite clear that some municipalities are using agricultural land taxes to balance their budgets - and view such taxes as an easy source of revenue. This problem is further compounded by the fact that there is no uniform system, and that the implementation differs widely from municipality to municipality. Some municipalities have charged as much as 7%. The implication for the sustainability of agriculture, both from the perspective of production and job creation, is substantial. Excessive agricultural land taxes also create an extra barrier to the entry of new emerging farmers.
Government's own Katz Commission produced a report in August 1998 that very clearly pointed out the dangers of the introduction of such a tax - especially one based on the market value of agricultural land instead of the use-value. The recent ruling by the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein has confirmed that although the Constitution authorises a land tax there must be uniformity and fairness in its application. It has been estimated that farmland prices could decline as much as 6-12% with a land tax levied at a rate of just 1-2%.
Madame Chairperson I would therefore like to call on the President to urgently consider the introduction of a moratorium on the levying by local governments of agricultural land taxes until such time as fair and equitable national guidelines, resulting from real and comprehensive consultation, have been issued to regulate these practices. In the interim, I would like to suggest that the Ministers of Local Government, Finance, and Agriculture urgently convene a stakeholders forum for agricultural representatives and local governments to discuss this issue and to find a middle ground which is both fair and sustainable.
Soweto Bombs, the Rightwing and the Group of 63
Madame Chairperson, success in South Africa depends on all of our communities working together and strengthening our common South African pride and patriotism. The recent spate of bombings in Soweto has been held up by some as evidence of how our communities have drifted apart since 1994. One group in particular has been very loud in its expressions of frustration in this regard.
The Group of 63 is a self-appointed group of Afrikaner academics and intellectuals who proclaim their commitment to advancing the cause of Afrikaners and Afrikaans. They took offence after my criticism of them at the weekend when they called on President Mbeki to analyse what they called Afrikaner alienation as a reason for these bombings, allegedly the work of right-wing Afrikaners.
Organisations like the Group of 63 are self-appointed and do not speak on behalf of any substantial Afrikaner grouping, or even Afrikaans intellectuals. The way to deal with frustrations in the Afrikaner community is to do what the NNP is doing - become part of mainstream and put constructive views on the table where they count, advancing the interests of all South Africans. According to the Group of 63's own documentation their advisory committee consists of respected South Africans including people like Prof Johan Degenaar, Prof Lawrence Schlemmer, Herman Giliomee, Prof David Welsh and Dr van Zyl Slabbert. I would like to call on these people to distance themselves from both the statement and approach of the Group of 63. Once one starts on this road of carefully worded apologies for violence there is no turning back.
Let us not to give fringe groups like this the benefit of recognition that they are talking on behalf of any meaningful grouping of Afrikaners because they are not. People who break the law must feel the full brunt of the law.
If frustration is an excuse to plant bombs, let us compare frustrations, Madame Chairperson. There are many people with frustrations. Frustrations, because they are still waiting for running water, frustrations because it takes longer to build houses than initially expected. Frustrations because we are not creating jobs at the rate we would like them to be created. Frustrations because some parents in this country don't know where and how they will provide their children with a proper meal. But despite these frustrations these are not the people planting bombs. The people planting these bombs are doctors, lawyers and professionals, people who have had the opportunity to study at university. Madame Chairperson, groups like the Group of 63 should reconsider the whole basis of their argument. The Group of 63 is doing the cause of Afrikaners and Afrikaans much more harm than good by becoming apologists for violence.
The reaction of the Freedom Front was essentially the same as that of the Group of 63. Although they pay lip service to the opposition to violence they then continue to build the arguments for why these so-called frustrations lead to such acts. Madam Chairperson, under our electoral system we don't have any thresholds for parties to be represented in Parliament. Other countries with similar electoral systems have a cut-off of 3 or 5%. The idea in South Africa is that we should make it easy for parties to be represented in Parliament, and to put their cases here. But parties should not be allowed to abuse the freedom and protection of Parliament to become apologists for undemocratic behaviour and the planting of bombs.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Madam Chairperson, the coalition government within the Western Cape is working well. We are living up to our commitment to breath life into the words of our constitution and to live our Constitution. We are illustrating that it is possible for black, white, coloured and Indian to not only tolerate each other but to be successful together. That is what we will continue to do.
Enquiries: Riaan Aucamp @ 083-778-9923
Issued by Office of the Premier, Western Cape
12 November 2002
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: Van Schalkwyk: Address at the NCOP
SPEECH BY WESTERN CAPE PREMIER, MARTHINUS VAN SCHALKWYK, SPEAKING IN THE NCOP DEBATE ON THE ANNUAL ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT, Cape Town, 12 November 2002
The pessimists are saying that South Africa will become another Zimbabwe, but we know that South Africa will be a success. The pessimists are saying that relations between our different communities are deteriorating and will continue to worsen. They take great pleasure in widely and loudly predicting the end of our Rainbow Nation. We know though, that there are enough leaders of character and quality, from every community in South Africa, to do what must be done to build our common future, and to again prove the pessimists wrong.
Land Reform
One of the most pressing challenges confronting South Africa in our quest to succeed is the burning question of land and land reform. We have heard the Honourable President talking this afternoon about poverty alleviation and sustainable economic development.
Our approach to land reform must be driven by the principles of sustainability, transparency and responsibility. It must aim to protect private property and at the same time to extend land ownership to those who have previously been denied access.
Since 1999, the Department of Land Affairs with the cooperation of farmers, has been able to deliver more than 1,1 million hectares of formerly private land for redistribution, as well as another 1,2 million hectares of state agricultural land.
Government's target of redistributing 30% of all agricultural land in South Africa by 2015, and the fact that R323 million has been put aside for land reform and restitution over the next three years, should be welcomed by all and deserves our collective support.
As the Government of the Western Cape we are critically aware of how important it is for us to broaden the base of those communities who benefit from economic growth. More people from more communities need to feel the power of economic change - particularly in the agricultural sector. Our plan is to settle 7000 new emerging farmers from the coloured and black communities, in addition to the 11 000 existing white commercial farmers, as soon as possible through the 150 Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development projects registered in the province. This will be done in close partnership with Agri-Western Cape, the organised body of commercial farmers. Agri-Western Cape continues to play a very positive and constructive role in land reform in our province.
The story of successful land reform in South Africa is the story of men and women like Mr Trevor Abrahams. Last year under the land reform programme in the Western Cape, Mr Abrahams was settled on 18 hectares of land in the Warm Bokkeveld near Ceres. Operating under the name Trevor's Boerdery, and with the help and mentorship of Mr Robert Graaff of the nearby farm Lushof, Mr Abrahams planted peaches and butternuts for the export market, and also other crops for sale locally. This year he aims to produce carrots for the Taiwanese market. Mr Abrahams is an example of how South African men and women, given the opportunity, will make a success of meaningful land reform.
Northridge Farms, also outside of Ceres, provides another example of land reform which has worked. One year after facing unemployment Mr Paul Onrust and the workers of Northridge Farms have celebrated their first year as 100% shareholders with a profit of R1, 3 million on a turnover of R7, 9 million. With hard work and dedication to making a success of their opportunities the people of Northridge have shown us all what can be accomplished. Madame Chairperson, both Mr Trevor Abrahams and Mr Paul Onrust, as well as Mr Kosie Loubser and Mr Frans LeRoux of Agri-Western Cape, are in the public gallery today, and I would like to acknowledge their presence and their achievements as representatives of a much wider land reform programme which is working.
Moratorium on Agricultural Land Tax
One of the focus areas of the President's speech today was the role of local government in poverty alleviation. Sadly it is at the level of local government that one of the most problematic issues, with the potential to undo much of the good, which has been done in land reform, arises: the issue of an agricultural land tax.
It is quite clear that some municipalities are using agricultural land taxes to balance their budgets - and view such taxes as an easy source of revenue. This problem is further compounded by the fact that there is no uniform system, and that the implementation differs widely from municipality to municipality. Some municipalities have charged as much as 7%. The implication for the sustainability of agriculture, both from the perspective of production and job creation, is substantial. Excessive agricultural land taxes also create an extra barrier to the entry of new emerging farmers.
Government's own Katz Commission produced a report in August 1998 that very clearly pointed out the dangers of the introduction of such a tax - especially one based on the market value of agricultural land instead of the use-value. The recent ruling by the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein has confirmed that although the Constitution authorises a land tax there must be uniformity and fairness in its application. It has been estimated that farmland prices could decline as much as 6-12% with a land tax levied at a rate of just 1-2%.
Madame Chairperson I would therefore like to call on the President to urgently consider the introduction of a moratorium on the levying by local governments of agricultural land taxes until such time as fair and equitable national guidelines, resulting from real and comprehensive consultation, have been issued to regulate these practices. In the interim, I would like to suggest that the Ministers of Local Government, Finance, and Agriculture urgently convene a stakeholders forum for agricultural representatives and local governments to discuss this issue and to find a middle ground which is both fair and sustainable.
Soweto Bombs, the Rightwing and the Group of 63
Madame Chairperson, success in South Africa depends on all of our communities working together and strengthening our common South African pride and patriotism. The recent spate of bombings in Soweto has been held up by some as evidence of how our communities have drifted apart since 1994. One group in particular has been very loud in its expressions of frustration in this regard.
The Group of 63 is a self-appointed group of Afrikaner academics and intellectuals who proclaim their commitment to advancing the cause of Afrikaners and Afrikaans. They took offence after my criticism of them at the weekend when they called on President Mbeki to analyse what they called Afrikaner alienation as a reason for these bombings, allegedly the work of right-wing Afrikaners.
Organisations like the Group of 63 are self-appointed and do not speak on behalf of any substantial Afrikaner grouping, or even Afrikaans intellectuals. The way to deal with frustrations in the Afrikaner community is to do what the NNP is doing - become part of mainstream and put constructive views on the table where they count, advancing the interests of all South Africans. According to the Group of 63's own documentation their advisory committee consists of respected South Africans including people like Prof Johan Degenaar, Prof Lawrence Schlemmer, Herman Giliomee, Prof David Welsh and Dr van Zyl Slabbert. I would like to call on these people to distance themselves from both the statement and approach of the Group of 63. Once one starts on this road of carefully worded apologies for violence there is no turning back.
Let us not to give fringe groups like this the benefit of recognition that they are talking on behalf of any meaningful grouping of Afrikaners because they are not. People who break the law must feel the full brunt of the law.
If frustration is an excuse to plant bombs, let us compare frustrations, Madame Chairperson. There are many people with frustrations. Frustrations, because they are still waiting for running water, frustrations because it takes longer to build houses than initially expected. Frustrations because we are not creating jobs at the rate we would like them to be created. Frustrations because some parents in this country don't know where and how they will provide their children with a proper meal. But despite these frustrations these are not the people planting bombs. The people planting these bombs are doctors, lawyers and professionals, people who have had the opportunity to study at university. Madame Chairperson, groups like the Group of 63 should reconsider the whole basis of their argument. The Group of 63 is doing the cause of Afrikaners and Afrikaans much more harm than good by becoming apologists for violence.
The reaction of the Freedom Front was essentially the same as that of the Group of 63. Although they pay lip service to the opposition to violence they then continue to build the arguments for why these so-called frustrations lead to such acts. Madam Chairperson, under our electoral system we don't have any thresholds for parties to be represented in Parliament. Other countries with similar electoral systems have a cut-off of 3 or 5%. The idea in South Africa is that we should make it easy for parties to be represented in Parliament, and to put their cases here. But parties should not be allowed to abuse the freedom and protection of Parliament to become apologists for undemocratic behaviour and the planting of bombs.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Madam Chairperson, the coalition government within the Western Cape is working well. We are living up to our commitment to breath life into the words of our constitution and to live our Constitution. We are illustrating that it is possible for black, white, coloured and Indian to not only tolerate each other but to be successful together. That is what we will continue to do.
Enquiries: Riaan Aucamp @ 083-778-9923
Issued by Office of the Premier, Western Cape
12 November 2002
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