[The South African Communist Party is up to no good – as usual. What else can one expect from a communist? The only good communist is a dead one. This is just another attack on White Farmers. Jan]

Johannesburg – The SA Communist Party expects greater sacrifices from white farmers than from any other sector to alleviate poverty in rural areas, farmer’s union Agri SA said on Thursday.

This followed a meeting between the two in Pretoria on Wednesday.

The SACP had requested the meeting in order to discuss the speeding up of land reform and poverty alleviation in the rural areas.

In a statement issued by Agri SA afterwards, its president, Lourie Bosman, said it was clear from the meeting that the parties held different views on how the sector should make a contribution towards addressing poverty.

He said land reform and labour relations were based on market principles and respect for human rights.

However, SACP spokesperson Mazibuko Kanyiso Jara on Wednesday said the farming body was “out of touch with the masses”.

Bosman argued that land reform should based on the willingness to participate in transformation within the sector, provided that the economic survival of existing role-players was not adversely affected.

Although the SACP had handed over a memorandum of demands to Agri SA, Bosman said it was not clear what the party expected from agriculture.

“Specific reference is made to the fact that research into the whole issue of land reform is required, which in their opinion is needed to hold a land summit.”

This included land for housing and subsistence farming.

“While Agri SA understands the implications of these issues, it is of the opinion that the national government and the economy in general should bear the cost of social upliftment,” Bosman said.

It was not for organised agriculture to bear these costs alone or disproportionately.

Edited by Elmarie Jack

Source: News24.Com
URL: http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/Pol…/p>