The Agri Sector Unity Forum (ASUF) has requested an engagement with Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform Gugile Nkwinti following its submission of a consensus document on land reform.

"It is in the best interest of all South Africans, both present and future generations, that land reform succeeds,” stressed ASUF chairperson Japie Grobler in a statement on Monday.

He expected the future working relationship with the department to be backed up with a formalised agreement or memorandum of understanding.

The submission to the Minister dealt with matters such as the need for a proper land audit, a dedicated financial institution to provide the required financing, land reform beneficiaries to eventually become fully fledged land owners, land which becomes available on the market to first be offered to government in terms of what was generally known as the “right of first refusal”, training and screening of possible beneficiaries, the composition and briefing of District Land Committees and the position of land restitution in relation to other land reform policies.

While general consensus could not be reached on the issue of land ceilings, certain proposals were made nevertheless, Grobler noted, adding that although detail would have to be added to the proposals, he felt real progress had been made.

Grobler highlighted that ASUF members had never questioned the principle of land reform, hence a solid foundation was provided for discussions within the forum as to how to proceed with the “extremely complex matter”.

“Admittedly the guidance provided by the National Development Plan, the Constitution of the South Africa and the generally accepted point of departure by all parties that security of tenure and, more specifically, title deeds are nonnegotiable, made the task at hand much easier," he said.

However, it remained a major challenge for the sector to better reflect the demography of the country while maintaining its productive capacity, while natural resource limitations and climactic constraints were not supporting the cause.

Currently ASUF consisted of the African Farmers Association of South Africa, TAU SA, Agri SA and the National African Farmers Union of South Africa. The forum’s main purpose was to contribute to effective policymaking that was in the best interest of all South Africans by advocating consensus positions to external stakeholders, other interested parties and policymakers.