I want to start by saying to the hon member who has just spoken that you don't need to be on the portfolio committee to understand what is happening in land reform. [Interjections.] I can think for myself - I don't have to read. [Interjections.] However, I understand that there are some members, like the hon member, who have to be on a committee to understand what is happening in land reform. [Laughter.] So that is his choice.
I also want to say that land is a very emotional issue. In fact, certain countries have gone to war when it comes to land. I want to say to the hon Sizani that he actually was and is an embarrassment to his Minister, because he was telling us how incompetent the hon Minister's department is! If you complete a form and the wrong person submits it, then the wrong person gets the land and it doesn't go to the right person. It's the incompetence of the department of the hon Minister. So he's an embarrassment.
On the issue of the history, I want to say to the hon member and all other members, go and read the yearbook published by government, and go onto the website of the Department of Communications and read the history that they have given. That is the exact history that my leader, Dr Pieter Mulder, referred to in Parliament. So go and read it and get the right information. [Interjections.]
Agb Minister, u het 'n groot taak om te voltooi ten opsigte van voedselsekerheid. Daar word van die boere van Suid-Afrika verwag om voedselsekerheid te lewer, maar die uitsprake wat oor grond in Suid-Afrika gemaak word, skep onsekerheid by die boere. Ja, die regering wil voedselsekerheid h, maar hy wil nie vir die boere die sekerheid gee van die besit van hul grond nie. Dit geld spesifiek in die geval van die beginsel van vrywillige koper, vrywillige verkoper.
Ek het 'n bietjie na die vorige jaarverslae gaan kyk, en ek kan verstaan hoekom die departement klei trap as dit by die beginsel van vrywillige koper, vrywillige verkoper kom. Dit is omdat daar in die 2007-08- jaarverslag van Grondsake baie duidelik staan dat dit deel van hul strategiese planne is om by Zimbabwe te gaan leer. Hulle het gaan kyk wat die beleid en die beginsels is wat in Zimbabwe ten opsigte hiervan toegepas is. [Tussenwerpsels.]
Nou wil ek vir die agb Minister s dat as u daardie beginsels in Suid- Afrika gaan toepas, gaan u ook die hongersnood in Suid-Afrika kry wat daar in Zimbabwe is. U is die Minister wat hiervoor verantwoordelik is. U moet opstaan en s: "Dit is nie die beleid van die ANC-regering nie."
U moet luister na wat 'n voorganger van u, die agb Derek Hanekom, ges het toe hy die Minister van Grondsake was. Hy het vanjaar duidelik by Graan Suid-Afrika ges dat as daar 'n mislukking van die vrywillige koper, vrywillige verkoper-beginsel is, dan is dit die regering se eie skuld. So, u eie kollega s as dit misluk, is dit u department en die regering se skuld. Leer daaruit!
Agb Minister, ek het 'n vraag gevra oor De Hoop, 'n plaas van 43 ha, in die Delareyville-omgewing. Dit is deur die departement van 'n swart boer gekoop - nie van 'n wit boer nie, 'n swart boer! [Tussenwerpsels.] Hulle het R800 000 vir 43 ha betaal. As dt die geval is, dan is daar 'n probleem. [Tyd verstreke.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Hon Minister, you have a gigantic task to fulfil with regard to food security. It is expected of the farmers of South Africa to deliver food security. However, the statements that are being made regarding land in South Africa are creating uncertainty amongst the farmers. Yes, the government wants food security. However, it does not want to give security to farmers with regard to ownership of their land. This applies specifically to the willing-buyer, willing-seller principle.
I have had a look at previous annual reports and therefore I am able to understand why the department is floundering when it comes to the willing- buyer, willing-seller principle. It is because the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform's annual report of 2007-08 states very clearly that learning from Zimbabwe forms part of their strategic plans. They made a study of the policy and principles that were implemented in Zimbabwe in this regard. [Interjections.]
At this point I would like to say to the hon Minister, should you apply those principles in South Africa, you will have the same famine in South Africa that is prevailing in Zimbabwe. You are the Minister who is accountable in this regard. You have to stand up and say: "This is not the policy of the ANC-led government."
You should listen to what your predecessor, the hon Derek Hanekom, said during his term of office as the Minister of Land Affairs. This year, at Grain SA, he clearly stated that should there be a failure regarding the willing-buyer, willing-seller principle then the government itself would be to blame. So, your own colleague is of the opinion that should it fail, then your department and the government would be to blame. Learn from it!
Hon Minister, I have posed a question regarding De Hoop, a 43 ha farm in the Delareyville area. The department bought it from a black farmer - not from a white farmer, but a black farmer! [Interjections.] They paid R800 000 for 43 ha. Should this be the case, then there is a problem. [Time expired.]]