#ANC54: Agri SA calls on new ANC leaders to implement workable land reform policies

The African National Congress (ANC) has elected Cyril Ramaphosa to be the party's president for the next five years. Picture: Dave Naicker/Xinhua

The African National Congress (ANC) has elected Cyril Ramaphosa to be the party's president for the next five years. Picture: Dave Naicker/Xinhua

Published Dec 19, 2017

Share

Johannesburg - Agri SA, which represents South Africa's agriculture sector, said on Tuesday the ruling ANC party's newly elected leaders should work towards creating a sustainable land policy environment to restore investor confidence.

 Agri SA congratulated the country's deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa over his election as new leader of the African National Congress but said the governing party had a daunting task ahead to create an investor-friendly environment through stable leadership. 

"While our focus is on agriculture, it is also of great importance that the following issues should receive the urgent attention of the governing party to take our country forward," it said, singling out rural safety, land reform and the economy.

"The seriousness of the continued, violent attacks and criminality against the farming community should receive the priority attention it deserves. The government must address the levels of crime plaguing all South Africans with vigour."

The grouping asked the ruling party to implement workable land reform policies and laws which would create opportunities for all South Africans who wanted to enter the agricultural industry.

Land has long been an emotive issue in South Africa, and the ANC is under pressure to speed up its redistribution to blacks who form the majority of the population.

Agri SA, the bulk of whose members are white farmers, said agriculture had helped South Africa recover from a temporary recession earlier this year, powering ahead by 44.2 percent in the third quarter after expanding by 38.7 percent in the second quarter.

African News Agency/ANA

Related Topics: