[Mulhollanddose]

BLACK South Africans have begun a series of “symbolic” property invasions with the aim of pressing the government to speed the transfer of white-owned farms to them.
Supporters of the South African Communist party yesterday took over unused municipal land outside Brits, a town in North West province.

The Communists, who are in government with President Thabo Mbeki’s African National Congress, have called for similar demonstrations across the country to force the state to redistribute property to poor blacks.

The government has accused white farmers of delaying land reform by demanding exorbitant prices for their property. But, worried that they could be driven from their homes like their counterparts in Zimbabwe, white farmers have vowed to fight for their rights.

“It’s like a war out here,” said Gideon Meiring, who farms cattle and grain near the Zimbabwean border. “But no way will we allow a second Zimbabwe to happen in South Africa.”

Meiring is an official with the powerful Transvaal Agricultural Union, which represents many of the country’s 40,000 white farmers. Over the past 10 years hundreds have been murdered, and many others are struggling to stay in business since strict labour laws and higher land taxes were introduced.

I am beginning to have more and more sympathy for the farmer.



TimesOnlineUK