Politics ANC ‘agreed’ to protect productive farms and property rights in meeting with Agri SA Ramaphosa, Mabuza made undertakings in separate meetings with farmer organisation BL PREMIUM

South African ruling-party officials committed to protect productive agricultural land and property rights in a meeting with a commercial farmers’ lobby group about the government’s plan to allow expropriation without compensation. Agri SA and the Agricultural Business Chamber met with Deputy President David Mabuza and African National Congress Treasurer-General Paul Mashatile in Johannesburg Tuesday about agrarian reform and farm property. The ANC officials pledged not to allow land grabs and that production will start on 4,000 farms currently in the government’s possession to unlock their commercial value, Agri SA said in an emailed statement. The meeting “sets a foundation for a lasting partnership with the aim to sustainably transform and grow agriculture,” said Omri van Zyl, Agri SA’s executive director. “Our focus will remain on negotiating for tangible benefits for producers.” Dan Kriek, Agri SA’s president, met separately with President Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister of Planni...