The SA Communist Party has welcomed moves toward the first expropriation of a commercial farm for restitution, while the Democratic Alliance cautioned against the use of this option.

"This action underlines ... that the 'willing seller, willing buyer' principle constitutes the major impediment to government's land reform programme," the SACP said on Thursday.

The DA said it would watch developments in the matter closely.

"Expropriation should only be used as a method of last resort, and only in cases where it can be proved that a landowner is unreasonably rejecting market-related compensation."

Earlier in the day, North West land claims commissioner Blessing  Mphela said an expropriation notice would be served on the owner of  the 500ha farm Leeuwspruit in the Lichtenburg district.

He said the decision followed two-and-a-half years of inconclusive negotiations on the value of the property - with owner Hannes Visser wanting R3-million and the government offering R1.75-million.

The SACP said in a statement a key requirement for accelerated land reform was the acquisition of new land. This could only be realised through expropriation and at reasonable prices set by the government.

"(This case) illustrates the extent to which farmers have overpriced land in our country, either to frustrate accelerated land reform or to become the major beneficiaries of government's land reform programme at the expense of the landless."

DA spokesman Martin Slabbert said the value of the compensation offered to landowners was of critical importance.

The onus was squarely on the state to prove that the compensation was fair and market-related, he said.

Visser said he intended contesting the move.

"I do not recognise the (restitution) claim on my land and cannot be forced to sell at the government's price," he said.

Farmers' union Agri SA said it appeared the government was seeking to make an example of Visser.

Should Visser be correct on the invalidity of the claim, it would mean the minister was acting beyond the scope of her powers, land affairs spokeswoman Annelize Crosby said.

The union said it also believed that alternative avenues have not been exhausted.

Sapa-AFP
Publisher: I-Net Bridge
Source: I-Net Bridge