The Strengthening the Relative Rights of People Working the Land policy wants to deracialise the rural economy, allow farm workers the means to own land and ensure food security. The policy proposes a share equity scheme on commercial farms. This means that each farm owner will retain 50% ownership and will cede 50% to workers. The workers will acquire equity shares in the farm, depending on their length of service.
Farm owner Andrew Braithwaite had sold 400 hectares of his farm to the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform and the project was launched in August 2016 with 25 beneficiaries under the Ekhamazi Trust. Westcliffe Farms owns 50%, 25 farm workers own 45% (with the potential to expand to 50 with longstanding employees) and the National Empowerment Fund owns 5%. Currently there are 92 employees on the farm from the neighbouring communities.
Mr Robert Ntuli, a beneficiary and elected director said they were overwhelmed by the visit of the Portfolio Committee. “As emerging farm workers we did not expect a visit so soon, but we can see that you are serious”. Mr Ntuli has worked on the farm for a number of years and does the bookkeeping.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Ms Phumuzile Ngwenya-Mabila said: “We have read about Westcliffe Farm in our reports. We are here to see exactly what is happening with the 50/50 policy in reality. We want to see the objective of this policy where our people come out of poverty, the high rate of unemployment being reduced and the issues of inequality is being addressed.” She also emphasised the importance for the farm beneficiaries of accountability and transparency in all farm activities.
Beneficiaries would like to grow the business and purchase more property, but there are not enough people with the correct skills or the desire to farm. The National Empowerment Fund will provide business development training in December for the beneficiaries. In order to retain and transfer skills the farm owner is still actively involved in the day-to-day running of the farm.
The farm owner has a personal investment and interest in the project succeeding. A sugar cane operation will be operating on its own in a few years and avocado farming is also envisaged.
The Committee met with the workers on the farm and heard their challenges and successes. Ms Ngwenya-Mabila said: “This project is one of hope. As it grows, our people will grow too, as the ownership and success of the venture is in the hands of the men and women who toil the soil. Westcliffe Farm is one of hope and faith that farmworkers who become farm owners can be the change-makers to the realisation of land equity in South Africa.”
Sureshinee Govender
22 August 2017