HR Pulse

Nkwinti proceeds with farm seizures

In April this year, it was announced that rural development and land reform minister - Gugile Nkwinti – was considering a plan whereby the ownership of half of each farm in South Africa would be transferred to the people who had lived and worked on that farm for a predetermined period of time. The proposed seizures would be made without compensation. Recent reports now indicate that the minister is going ahead with his plans.

This plan is part of government's attempt to protect farm workers, from eviction by farm owners, after a long period of service.

The state will pay for the half of farms that will be re-possessed, however this money won't be going to the farm owners. According to a report on City Press, the money "will go into an investment and development fund to be jointly owned by the parties constituting the new ownership regime".

"The fund will be used to develop the managerial and production capacity of the new entrants to land ownership to further invest on the farm as well to lay out [sic] people who wish to opt out of the new regime," said the City Press report.

Criticism of this policy have been rife, with accusations being levelled at government that they are trying to outdo Julius Malema and his EFF cohorts.