Agricultural minister unveils first harvest of sour grapes

Agriculture Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson said the government will not stand in the way of farmers investing in other African countries but "cannot help protect their investments." (From IOL)

Duh UH DUH! The minister can't get it into her teensie little brain that the white farmers of this country are seeking greener pastures elsewhere because of this government's policy targetting their farms. The minister is also ignoring the matter before the Constitutional Court regarding the governments dismal failure to lift a finger to help Mr von Abo when he was losing his farms in Zimbabwe. No pressure, no request, nothing from our government. Perhaps it is because Mr von Abo is white?

"South Africa would not be able to protect their risk in another country, and we wouldn't be able to provide them with any security or any insurance for their money. So if they invest, they face the risk like any other investor." (She means to say South Africa WILL not protect their investments in other countries? She is the person in the position to negotiate bilateral protection treaties with these countries? Maybe she knows something about the way Africa seems to work. An area is colonised and developed until the local population decides to lose the plot Zimbabwe style? What are you saying to foreign companies wanting to invest in South African agriculture when you are not willing to provide our citizens basic protections on racial terms? What about black entrepeneurs who want to invest in African agriculture?)

"We have also spoken about security of tenure and security of land, that they should understand the policies of the countries they are investing in - particularly around land." (You don't think the farmers have read the LARGE print regarding this country's land policy? Why do you think they are looking elsewhere?)

"We had high risk impacts in Zimbabwe, where South African farmers went to Zimbabwe, lost their farms and were looking for some form of compensation," she said. (While the South African government fiddled on the sidelines?)

"We are not trying to scare away South African investments in the rest of Africa...but we caution our farmers to say that make sure that you understand what you are negotiating, what you are signing up for. You need to read the fine print." (She is doing her best to discourage external investments and sounds panicky. Could it be that the grass really is greener on the other side? Or could it be that the minister realises that the white farmers are just leaving, taking their skills, money and equipment and escaping from under her jackboot? Lady, use the royal "we" all you like, you still sound panicked!)