Vrystaat Landbou rejects Ramaphosa’s land reform remarks

Vrystaat Landbou (VL) strongly rejects President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent remarks in which he compared South Africa’s land reform efforts to Zimbabwe’s disastrous experiment. Such comparisons are not only misleading but dangerous.

“Zimbabwe’s so-called land reform collapsed one of Africa’s most productive agricultural economies, destroyed food security, and plunged millions into poverty. To invoke it as an example for South Africa shows a worrying disregard for the lessons of history”, says Friedl von Maltitz, vice-president of VL.

Commercial agriculture is not the enemy of transformation — it is the backbone of South Africa’s economy and the key to our food security:

• A growing contributor to GDP: Primary agriculture’s share of GDP has risen from 1.8% in 2013 to 2.8% in 2024.
• A national engine: Including forestry and fisheries, agriculture drives nearly 12% of GDP through strong linkages with manufacturing and other sectors.
• Jobs and livelihoods: The sector sustains hundreds of thousands of families, especially in rural areas where alternatives are scarce.
• Foreign exchange: Agriculture keeps South Africa competitive globally and generates vital export earnings.
• Socio-economic stabiliser: Agriculture underpins poverty reduction, rural stability, and above all, food security.

“Undermining this sector through reckless rhetoric or ill-considered policies is a direct threat to every South African’s plate of food and every worker’s job. Land reform must succeed — but it will fail if it sacrifices productivity for political expediency.”

Francois Wilken, president of VL, adds that if the South African government is serious about transformation, it must prioritise granting property rights and title deeds to new entrants and emerging farmers. Without secure ownership, no farmer can access financing, invest in their land, or build sustainable enterprises. “True empowerment comes not from taking land out of production, but from giving farmers the certainty and tools they need to succeed.”

Vrystaat Landbou supports meaningful and sustainable transformation. However, we will not remain silent when government narratives risk repeating Zimbabwe’s mistakes. The President must provide clarity and leadership that strengthens, not weakens, the agricultural sector.