Following yesterday’s budget speech, Saai is sceptical over the small budget allocated to finalising land claims. Tito Mboweni, Minister of Finance, said yesterday that R500 million had been budgeted for the finalisation thereof.
According to Theo de Jager, Saai’s Chairperson of the Board of Directors, there are significantly more farms listed in the Government Gazette under outstanding land claims than what were bought over the last 20 years. The total budget allocated for this purpose is but half of what Government spent on a single farm, Mala-Mala, as part of a land claim.
“The state’s budget for land claims for the next three years is in fact only 2% of what Roelf Meyer committed to through his newly-founded agricultural development agency for the support of beneficiaries. Outstanding court cases against the Department– given the its bad track record in the courts – may very well deplete the total budget. The inadequate budget for land reform is simply more proof that government – despite the abuse of the land issue to create unrealistic expectations for the poor rural communities – is neither serious about maintaining a healthy, competitive agricultural sector, nor about creating a class of successful black farmers with profitable farms,” De Jager says.
In terms of agriculture, some highlights include the confirmation of independent electricity delivery to the national network, the preliminary amount of R500 million for disaster relief as witnessed currently with the ongoing drought, and R495,1 million for biosecurity after the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. These contributions can bring relief to affected farmers on condition that they receive it without discrimination.
“The problem is not the value of the allocated funds, but rather how these available funds are appropriated,” says Francois Rossouw, CEO of Saai.
Mboweni is spot on with his statement that the state will now have to do more with less funds and that corruption, misappropriation and state capture should be eradicated.
“The strengthening of the National Prosecuting Authority and special investigation units with R2,4 billion, together with the condemnation of crime such as those arising from the Zondo Commission hearings, are positive signs, but these gestures can only be viewed as legitimate when there is active prosecution,” Rossouw adds.
South Africa has a lamentable history of misappropriation and corruption, and even the best budget is vulnerable if the guilty parties control the purse. A financial turnaround starts with the prosecution of corrupt officials and not with increased pressure on the taxpayers.
AFRIKAANS
Doeltreffende besteding is belangriker as groter inkomste
Na aanleiding van gister se begrotingsrede is Saai skepties oor die klein begroting om grondeise te finaliseer. Tito Mboweni, minister van finansies, het gister genoem dat R500 miljoen vir die finalisering hiervan begroot is.
Volgens Theo de Jager, Saai se direksievoorsitter, is daar baie meer plase onder onafgehandelde grondeise in die Staatskoerant gelys as wat daar in die afgelope 20 jaar gekoop is. Die totale begroting daarvoor is maar die helfte van wat die staat aan ’n enkele plaas, Mala-Mala, in ’n grondeis bestee het.
“Die staat se begroting vir grondeise vir die volgende drie jaar is trouens maar net 2% van wat Roelf Meyer deur sy nuutgestigte landbou-ontwikkelingsagentskap vir die ondersteuning van begunstigdes verbind het. Uitstaande hofsake teen die departement kan, gegewe hul swak baanrekord in die howe, die totale begroting insluk. Die ontoereikende begroting vir grondhervorming is net nóg ’n bewys dat die regering – ondanks die misbruik van die grondkwessie om onrealistiese verwagtinge by arm landelike gemeenskappe te skep – nie ernstig is om ’n gesonde en mededingende landbousektor te onderhou of ’n klas van suksesvolle swart boere met winsgewende plase te skep nie,” sê De Jager.
Wat landbou betref, was van die hoogtepunte die bevestiging van onafhanklike kragvoorsiening aan die nasionale netwerk, die voorlopige bedrag van R500 miljoen vir ramphulp soos wat tans met die deurlopende droogte ervaar word, en R495,1 miljoen vir bio‑sekuriteit na aanleiding van die onlangse bek-en-klouseer-uitbraak. Hierdie bydraes kan vir geaffekteerde boere verligting bring mits dit ondiskriminerend by hulle uitkom.
“Dit is nie die hoeveelheid fondse wat toegewys word wat die probleem is nie, maar eerder hóé die beskikbare fondse aangewend word,” sê Francois Rossouw, uitvoerende hoof van Saai.
Mboweni is in die kol met sy stelling dat die staat nou meer met minder fondse sal moet doen en dat korrupsie, wanbesteding en staatskaping uitgeroei moet word.
“Die versterking van die Nasionale Vervolgingsgesag en spesiale ondersoekeenhede met R2,4 miljard, tesame met misdaadveroordelings soos dié wat uit die Zondo-kommissieverhore spruit, is positiewe tekens, maar dié gebare kan eers as legitiem beskou word sodra daar daadwerklike vervolging is,” voeg Rossouw by.
Suid-Afrika het ’n betreurenswaardige geskiedenis van wanbesteding en korrupsie, en selfs die beste begroting is kwesbaar solank as wat die skuldiges die beursies beheer. ’n Finansiële ommekeer begin by die vervolging van korrupte amptenare, en nie by verhoogde druk op belastingbetalers nie.
