South African farmers are deeply upset by what they see as a new assault on their property rights. A bill tabled in Parliament will allow the government not only to acquire land, but will also enable the minister to take all types of movable and immovable property as well as economic enterprises such as agricultural businesses.

The bill, which amends the Provision of Land and Assistance Act of 1993, defines property as including "shares, rights, title or interest in or to a juristic person, other entity or trust".

The amendment bill says that the minister may acquire such property "on such terms and conditions as he or she may determine".

TAU SA (formerly the Transvaal Agricultural Union) on Friday complained that this means only the government can determine the level of compensation for the seizure of the assets.

Paul van der Walt, president of TAU SA, said that this bill and the expropriation bill also currently before Parliament are in tandem with each other – "a deadly combination which will impact negatively on the agricultural sector".

Democratic process abused

He said: "No camouflage whatsoever can make this bill acceptable. A so-called democratic process is being abused by a government with a two-thirds majority in the process of creating a situation even worse than in Zimbabwe. The communists of the old Soviet regime would have been hard put to surpass such a situation."

Van der Walt also pointed out that in terms of this new act, government will retain expropriated land, implements and stock in trust, until it is transferred to the emerging farmers. "It is clear that even before suitable farmers are identified, the land will be transferred to government," he said. "This confirms a view that government is eager to get the current commercial farmers off their land as quickly as possible, even though the land will not be transferred to the new owners immediately.

"There are no guarantees that government will ever transfer title deed of expropriated land to new farmers. In fact, expropriated land could be given to ministers and their struggle comrades.

Gvt takes control of everything

"This is pure communism, where government takes control of everything. The South African government has already gained control of underground water and mineral rights – this situation is even worse than in Zimbabwe and government's lack of transparency is viewed with much trepidation."

Van der Walt called on the formal business sector to join the agricultural sector to resist these two bills with everything at their disposal. "The free market principle is now severely jeopardised. Today agriculture is targeted, tomorrow the mines, factories and businesses could face the same fate," Van der Walt said.

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