Eroding property rights, as the governing African National Congress is dead set on doing, can only have a negative impact on South Africa, warns Bennie van Zyl, general manager of the Transvaal Agricultural Union of South Africa (TAU SA). In this interview with the IRR, he explains why.
IRR: Farmers now face the twin property rights threats of the Expropriation Bill and a constitutional amendment – how serious is the danger?
Bennie van Zyl: These threats to change the constitution and the Expropriation bill, are seen in a very serious light. This forms part of the effort by the ANC to rebuild their image before the elections, which has led to big election promises regarding land reform, and they now have no other choice but to implement it.
But the bigger threat lies in their long-term goals: the implementation of socialism and communism.
Taking a broader view, it can only have a negative impact on South Africa, and the markets will swiftly show that. If the ANC succeeds in negatively affecting private property rights, our country will soon be part of the disaster we see elsewhere in Africa.
Agriculture is an economic process. It will continue its course despite the correct or incorrect application of economic principles. Economic trust from investors is a necessity for economic growth. But, this is exactly where the ANC is stealing South Africa’s future.
The ANC abuses every aspect of the country’s household as a political instrument to set their ideology. The price of this short-sighted policy is always high, and probably already too high for South Africa. When the political approach of the ANC and economic principles (which TLU SA commits to) comes in conflict, it is the economy that will determine the outcome. The economy will not be pushed around, it can only succeed or fail.
IRR: Over the years, many analysts said it would not happen and that the government would never move to take land without compensation – but TAU SA always disagreed. What convinced you to take an alternative view?
Bennie van Zyl: You just have to read ANC documents such as the National Democratic Revolution (NDR), Strategy and Tactics and the Freedom Charter to see what the ANC’s plan is, and has always been. It is set out very clearly and followed as gospel. We have never been so naïve as to think that they have let go of the communist-socialist viewpoint.
We now have a policy built on the ANC’s ideology as set out in their NDR. It is reaffirmed every year at their party conferences, and the decisions are set out in the Strategy and Tactics document.
In a conversation, party veteran Gwede Mantashe confirmed that the ANC is bound by its conference decisions. That is the policy and that is how it will be done. To not take notice of these decisions is very irresponsible. It is based on the execution of the NDR.
We are very concerned about how clueless so many people are about what the ANC is doing. Very few take note of the NDR and Strategy and Tactics document.
The ANC is systematically getting the appropriate legislation in place to fulfil the goals set out in the NDR. The process leading to the final destination of communism is indeed the transformation process. Part of the package are things like affirmative action and BEE. When we look at the outputs, we see it is just a vehicle to empower cadres and manipulate the masses for votes. The result is growing poverty, unemployment and an economy in dire straits.
TLU SA strives to ensure the adoption of principles that will lead to stability in agriculture. That would be economically correct. That has been our constant message. Our challenge is to convince politically correct outsiders of the ANC’s plans and how their support is helping the ANC reach these goals. Test the ANC by their statements and actions – and then make informed decisions.
IRR: TAU SA is often written off as a ‘right wing’ organisation – how do you respond to that, and the claims that you care only about whites or that your members are racist?
Bennie van Zyl: That tag was placed on our heads after the changes in agriculture in 1994. The old SALU wrote the old Transvaalse Landbou-unie out of their constitution and TLU SA is the remaining company.
It has become the trend to label institutions which are not politically correct. If you are called ‘right-wing’ when you stand up for economic principles like private property rights and reasonable prices influenced by markets and oppose any political principle standing in the way of creating trust for investments, then so be it.
It has also become the norm to call any whites ‘racist’ when they speak out against the ANC’s corrupt and destructive principles. We have always lobbied for the implementation of the correct economic principles under which agriculture can grow and in turn contribute to the country’s economy.
It is very interesting to see how many of our black counterparts and institutions knock at our door, because they know they will get honest and realistic answers. TLU SA’s answer to government is exactly the same as the answers given to our members and to any other organisation or institution.
The best suggestions for self-empowerment have come from TLU SA. After Leon Louw from the Free Market Foundation, we were the next organisation to fight for RDP-homeowners to be given the title deeds for their houses and farms.
IRR: You’ve taken a hard line with the government in refusing to budge on the principle of property rights when other organisations took a more accommodating line. Looking back, was your approach correct?
Bennie van Zyl: It is very clear that countries with private property rights are those that are provident and economically progressive. We cannot think of a single First World country which does not protect private property rights.
Our job is to protect and further farmers’ interests. We will not negotiate that. When you break this principle by even the smallest degree, the conversation will never be based on principle after that. From there on, it becomes a debate about which percentage will be the next target to win over.
When an organisation positions itself to adhere to principles from a pragmatic standpoint, it will understand quickly that the majority indicates the course and makes you an irrelevant player.
Our hard-and-fast principle is to convey and argue for the interests of the commercial farmer to government and other role players. We can in no way take part in justifying government’s policies and taking it to our members.
We are not a political party, but a farming interests organisation and this is our guiding principle. As an organisation, we should always be at an arm’s length from government, no matter who is governing. The alternative is that you become a pawn and will mean very little to your members. Government’s view (good or bad) will have become your view.
TLU SA is convinced that our approach is in the best interest of South Africa and its people. The examples of countries which implemented what the ANC is reaching for are many, while the countries which implement sound economic principles are the ones leading the world economy. That is our aim.
IRR: What is the mood among your members today, and what is your advice to them?
Bennie van Zyl: Agriculture is under great pressure because of the combined impact of ANC policy and climatic challenges. We are worried, but positive.
Our members are facing a serious drought, and the added financial strain that comes with it. We must have faith that relief will come.
When it comes to the threat of bad policy making, our members can trust that we will fight for their rights and interests until the end. We will never stop hoping that things will get better and that we will once again be able to do that which we do well – to produce food for every South African.
Michael Morris is head of the media at the IRR.
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