Mohamed Ameen Dabhelia – 2018/08/07

The African Muslim Farmers Association (AMFA) held its annual Qurbaani auction this past weekend in Camperdown, Kwazulu – Natal.

Over 170 sheep, 50 cattle and 30 goats went under the hammer, with a highly sought after ‘Wagyu’ ox fetching R63 000.

Amid the euphoria of Eid – Ul –Adha drawing closer by the day – local Muslim farmers all share the same concern regarding the issue of ‘expropriation of land without compensation’.

Last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed an inter-ministerial committee on land reform to expedite land redistribution headed by his Deputy David Mabuza.

Local farmers told Radio Islam that the redistribution policy threatens the future of South Africa’s agricultural industry. 

“Ramaphosa, our president says that they will expropriate land, you know what, at the moment South Africa is almost like the food basket of Africa, so this is a threat.”

They say South African farmers are among the best in the world.

“If you compare us to the farmers of Brazil or America, we up there. I give you an example, before John Deere (farming Equipment Company) sends out machinery anywhere in the world they offer it to South Africa, because they know the farmers here are exceptional.”

They stress that should the policy of ‘expropriation of land’ go ahead, South Africa will go through the exact same uncertainty experienced by our neighbors Zimbabwe.

“If you take expropriation, it already brings instability, we going in to the new season, the planting season now in the next two months when the rains come, farmers are not secure, and they afraid now, Zimbabwe overnight took over the lands, what’s going to happen here now, people are talking.”

The farmers say the policy will add more stress to the ailing economy of South Africa.

“Our economy is messed up, you just going to further dampen and further affect our economy.”

Land is expected to dominate campaigns ahead of the 2019 elections.

Parliament is currently holding public hearings country-wide on whether Section 25 of the Constitution, dealing with property rights must be amended to allow expropriation of land without compensation.