SA Graan Desember 2014

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Free State producers’ historic
land reform plan promises to lift
workers from generational poverty
An historic meeting took place at Weiveld Boerevereniging,
Parys, on Friday, 17 October, when 24 producers agreed
to pay R750 000 to a Land Reform Project (LRP) that will
assist their employees to become homeowners for the first
time and see 406 houses converted to freehold. This Land Reform
Project has the backing of Free State premier, Ace Magashule, and
the support of all political parties in Ngwathe.
Driven by the Free Market Foundation (FMF) and initiated and led
by Parys producers and entrepreneur, Mr Perry Feldman, this
project means that hundreds of poor and deprived families and
individuals will receive their first step towards true economic
freedom and economic prosperity. Educating the new home-
owners on how to manage their new asset is a vital part of the plan.
Land reform is a highly emotive and increasingly political divisive
issue, yet these Free State producers, without political motive or
public fanfare, are quietly helping local black citizens to gain access
to freehold title of the homes they currently occupy under Apartheid
era regulations.
This is a first in South Africa and stands as a prime example of what
can be achieved if all parties involved are committed to the principle
and ideal of full title for homeowners.
The land reform project is a tangible and practical example of real
ownership restoration in action. It is a blueprint which can be readily
taken up and adopted throughout the country where poor families
live in generational poverty, never having the means to access credit,
finance and opportunities.
A title deed is a profound game changer for millions of this
country’s poorest citizens: It is a tangible asset against which they
can borrow money, earn rental income and begin to change their
family’s socioeconomic circumstances. It is a simple, but extremely
effective plan.
Feldman and FMF executive director, Mr Leon Louw, explained how
the process would work in practice. A critical element is educating
the new homeowners about the value of their asset and how to
maximise the significant opportunity it presents.
LRP supporter Mr Kobus Dannhauser, Weiveld Boerevereniging
chairman and feed-lot operator, said that people who owned
property do not burn property. “Currently, workers who spend
scarce money on improving their houses often lose that investment
when disputes arise because they don’t have title. Then producers
have to lend more money to workers to start again.”
Dannhauser pledged to motivate sponsorship of 54 conversions
by the Boerevereniging, saying that this would contribute to a
stable workforce and create respect for the producers’ role in
transformation. Dairy farmer and tractor and implements distribu-
tor, Mr Wynn Dedwith, pledged to sponsor the conversion of all of
his workers’ properties (approximately 170) in the Ngwathe area
saying that such programmes were essential for the future of
producers and their image in society.
A further 182 pledges were made from the positive and fully engaged
audience who were keen to find out more about how to participate
in the LRP.
Louw said that the FMF will organise all aspects of the conversions
and producers should provide a list of their workers’ contact names
and stand numbers.
Anyone interested in supporting the project can contact Feldman
at 082 557 8130 or by email on or Lisa
Harraway on
41
RELEVANT
JAYNE BOCCALEONE, Media Relations and Communications, Free Market Foundation
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