Bill risks food supply

LAND EXPROPRIATION: FARMERS WITHDRAW LONG-TERM INVESTMENT

- Masoka Dube

The Land Expropriation Bill, which awaits the president's signature to become law, is a threat to food security, farmers say.

They said yesterday that many farmers have already halted long-term investment farming as they are unsure about the future.

TLU SA general manager Bennie van Zyl said after trying in vain to have the Bill reviewed, the association recently launched a campaign called Project 10 000 aimed at mobilising South Africans "to stand with us in defending our property rights".

"The courts will soon be the front line of this battle and your support is crucial," he said.

"If we do not act now our ability to defend our rights will be drastically reduced."

The Bill stipulates how expropriation of the land for public purposes or in the public interest will unfold.

It was passed by the National Council of Provinces on 19 March, this year.

"The reason we launched the campaign is because we did not receive any response to the input we made through the portfolio committee."