Landbou in Suid-Afrika, maar ook in die wêreld, staan op die kruin van ‘n nuwe aanslag.
Dit was ook die oorweldigende boodskap en tema tydens TLU SA se jaarlikse kongres wat vandag aangebied is.
As gevolg van die inperking is die kongres vanjaar vir die heel eerste keer virtueel aangebied en streke en affiliasies kon via Zoom inskakel.
Die uittredende president, mnr. Louis Meintjes het ‘n beroep gedoen op boere om meer betrokke te raak om die voortbestaan van landbou te verseker. “Ek dink die kritieke vraag is: ‘Word jy deel of bly jy agter? Verander jy of stagneer jy? Raak jy meer winsgewend of raak jy bankrot?’”.
Die hoofspreker van die kongres, Prof. Andrè Duvenhage, die Navorsingsdirekteur van Sosiale Transformasie by die Noordwes Universiteit het hierdie gedagte bevestig.
“Omstandighede gaan vorentoe heel waarskynlik moeiliker raak,” het hy gesê. “Die boerderygemeenskap is op hulleself aangewese en selfhelp en selfbestuur lyk na ‘n aangewese oplossing.”
Hy het verder gewaarsku dat die wysiging van Art.25 oor grondonteiening sonder vergoeding noodwendig sal voortgaan en dat groepe soos die BLF en EFF die reg in eie hande kan neem om grootskaalse anargie te veroorsaak.
“Dit is nou die tyd om by mekaar te staan en mekaar te ondersteun,” sê hy. “Bou brûe na mekaar as landbou-organisasies. Bou brûe na mekaar as landbouers.
“Dit is ook die tyd om met alternatiewe planne na vore kom. Dit is die uitdaging van die nuwe leierskap van TLU SA om aan te pas by die veranderende omstandighede om relevant te bly in fundamentele sake, en om die belang van boere te bevorder op elke terrein van die samelewing.”
Tydens die verrigtinge is mnr. Henry Geldenhuys (vorige adjunk-president) verkies tot die nuwe president van TLU SA. “Dit is vir my ‘n eer en ‘n hoogtepunt, maar dit gaan oor TLU SA,” sê hy. “Saam sal ons TLU SA na nuwe hoogtes neem.”
Mnr. Wannie Scribante (vorige voorsitter van die Sentraal streek) is verkies as die nuwe adjunk-president.
TLU SA Congress looks at new approach for agriculture
Agriculture in South Africa, as well as the world, is on the verge of a new approach.
That was the main message and theme of the annual congress of TLU SA, hosted today.
Because of the lockdown, the congress was hosted virtually for the first time this year and regions and affiliations could attend via Zoom.
The exiting president, Mr Louis Meintjes, called on farmers to become more involved to ensure the existence of agriculture in the future. “I think the critical question is: ‘Will you take part or will you stay behind? Are you changing or stagnating? Will you be more profitable or bankrupt?’”.
Prof Andrè Duvenhage, the Research Director of Social Transformation at the North-West University, confirmed this train of thought.
“The situation will most probably only become worse going forward,” he said. “The farming community is dependent on themself and self-help, and self-management looks like the best solution.”
He warned that the amendment of Art.25 relating to land expropriation without compensation would go ahead and groups like the BLF and EFF will take matters into their own hands to cause widespread anarchy.
“It is now the time to stand with each other and support each other,” he says. “Build bridges to each other as agricultural organisations. Build bridges to each other as farmers.
“It is also the time to come up with alternative plans. It is the challenge of the new leadership of TLU SA to adjust to the changing circumstances to stay relevant in fundamental issues and to further the interests of farmers in all fields of life.”
During the congress, Mr Henry Geldenhuys (previous deputy-president) was elected as the new president of TLU SA. “It is an honour and highlight for me, but TLU SA is the priority,” he says. “Together, we will take TLU SA to new heights.”
The congress elected Mr Wannie Scribante (previous manager of the Central region) as the new deputy president.
