Agri AUG SEPT 09.indd - Agri SA

DAGBOEK • DIARY
agri (waarby ingelyf Die Boer/The Farmer), word 5 keer per
jaar versprei aan lede van Agri SA en ander intekenare.
agri (under which Die Boer/The Farmer is incorporated) is
distributed 5 times a year to Agri SA members and subscribers.
Redaksionele komitee/Editorial committee
Hans vd Merwe, Johan Pienaar, Nic Opperman, Kobus Visser,
Dawie Maree, Elize van der Westhuizen, Annelize Crosby &
Zelna Oberholster
Personeel/Staff
Advertensiebestuurder/Advertising Manager: Zelna Oberholster
Waarnemende Uitvoerende Redakteur/Acting Executive Editor:
Zelna Oberholster
Kantooradministrateur en Intekenare/Office Administrator and
Subscribers: Thea Liebenberg
Medewerkers/Contributors: Dr Gerhard Verdoorn,
Cassie du Plessis & Dr Gerhard Backeberg
Uitgegee deur/Published by: Direkteur: Agri SA Korporatiewe
Skakeling/Director: Agri SA Corporate Liaison
Adres/Address
agri, Posbus/PO Box 1508, PRETORIA, 0001
SALU Gebou / SAAU Building, Schoemanstraat 255 Street,
Pretoria
Tel: (012) 300 9500 • Faks/Fax: (012) 320 0557
E-pos/E-mail: zelna@agrisa.co.za
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liggaam of organisasie wat in artikels in AGRI verskyn nie. Kopiereg word voorbehou
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and recommendations expressed by individuals or any other body or organisation
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reproduced with the consent of the Director: Corporate Services.
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If you wish to subscribe to agri contact
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Tel: 012 300-9500 • Faks/Fax: 012 320-0557
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Artikels in agri is ook in alternatiewe taal
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Articles in agri are also available in alternative
language on request.
SIRKULASIE/CIRCULATION:
GE-OUDIT / AUDITED 49 BETAALD / PAID
32 853 GRATIS / VERNIET
SEPTEMBER
1-2 September: The ARC presents a course on fynbos
cultivation “Short Course on Protea Production
and Marketing Aspects”. Olive Grove, ARC-Infruitec
Campus, Stellenbosch. Field trip: 3 September 2009
(Optional). Price: R3000 per person (Course notes,
refreshments and lunch included in price). Please
register before 31 July 2009 at Fynbos@arc.agric.
za or contact Antoinette Crous at Tel. (021) 809
3380; Fax. (021) 809 3400/3002. For more info visit
www.arc.agric.za. Participant numbers are limited.
17 September: Agri Gauteng Algemene Jaar verga
dering. Kontak Freek Tomlinson by (012) 300
9500.
4-6 September: Boertjie Kontreifees gaan gehou
word op Bultfonteinfeesterrein in die Vrystaat.
Skakel Volla by 083 636 1555 of Linda 082 338
1954 vir inligting en uitstalruimte of epos navrae na
Inhoud
Contents
AUGUSTUS/AUGUST • SEPTEMBER 2009
2 Redaksioneel
2 Boekresensie
Nuus/News
5 Government politics
6 The Cow Whisperer – Prof. Cheryl McCrindle
12 Minerale regte hofuitspraak: Regsnavrae
14 Besoek aan Argentinië
15 Minister vir r Landbou
16 RSA Farmers need investment protection in
Africa
18 Ondersoek van die Mededingingskommissie
24 Grondhervorming: Nuwe verwikkelinge
26 Ongelyke speelveld vir Suid-Afrikaanse boere
28 In die ou Transvaal
29 Vlug NWK100- op eiers
31 Farewell to the ‘fire and water building’
36 Transformasiekomitee vergader vir tweede
keer
37 CFU-kongres
Fokus/Focus
40 Handelsmetrologie vereistes
42 Besproeiingwenke vir kontantgewasse
44 Cheaper alternative to chemical fertilisers
43 Pruning tools
Gereeld/Regular
49 Water
50 Travel/Reis
51 Wyn/Wine
52 Agri Fauna
Cover: Barloworld
vollaboertjiefees@vodamail.co.za. U kan die webtuiste
www.boertjiekontreifees.co.za besoek.
15-18 September: Agri Megaweek, Bredasdorp.
24-28 Sept 2009: Caledon Veldblomme Skou
– Victoria Saal, Volwassenes R25, Kinders gratis.
Kon tak Adriaan Hanekom by adriaanhanekom@
telkomsa.net, www.caledonwildflowers.co.za, 028
214 1016 of 082 772 4681.
OKTOBER
8-9 Oktober: Agri SA Kongres by Misty Hills. Kon tak
Thea Liebenberg by thea@agrisa.co.za of skakel 082
388 0008.
15 Oktober: Barloworld Motor Retail en Barloworld
Equipment Boeredag by die Arena, Barloworld,
Wrenchstraat, Isando. Kontak Riana of Chantelle by
(011) 552 9177.
NOVEMBER
5-7 November: Bien Donne, Franschoek.
Jou opinie maak saak... Vertel ons wat jy van hou en wat jy sou verander in die agri.
Your opinion is important... Let us know what you like and what you would like to change in the agri.
Stuur jou kommentaar en besonderhede aan: / Send your comments & details to: zelna@agrisa.co.za / Posbus/P.O.Box 1508, Pretoria 0001
6
15
43
51

agri
Viewpoint
The ruling ANC has identified agricultural and rural development as one of its priorities for the
next few years. Its earnestness in this regard is underscored by the two ministries that have
been created to focus on the commercial functions of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, which
are closely related to those of rural development and land reform.
Government politics
For a long time the joint administration of these two policy
directives within one ministry had meant that commercial
functions of the industry were neglected in favour of
social upliftment objectives of transformation. The result
was the gradual decline of agriculture’s competitiveness and a
decrease in investment, which in 2008 caused South Africa to
lose its status as stable net exporter of food.
It appears that food security, food exports and a more favourable
investment climate for agriculture now represent a government
priority. In a watershed speech before Agri SA’s General Council
in July 2009, Ms Tina Joemat-Pettersson repeatedly referred to
her mandate from President Jacob Zuma to forge partnerships
with organised agriculture and to address matters in which
the state is involved, such as import protection, research and
funding, in order to exploit “all modern and relevant ways to
develop the production sector”.
Minister Gugile Nkwinti has also assured Agri SA that rural
development and land reform would be managed within a
strategic framework which would require his department to
work far more closely with organised agriculture at various
levels than was the case in the past. This attitude was given
substance by offering Agri SA the opportunity to participate in
the parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Rural Development
and Land Reform’s strategic planning session.
There can be no doubt that a new page had been opened for
agriculture and rural development at government level. There
can also be no doubt that government continues to strive for
transformation objectives as set out in the ANC Polokwane
congress resolu tions. The urgency to make progress in this
regard has in fact inten sified. However, various troublesome
policy issues must still be addressed, which will be no easy
task. Aspects such as abandoning the “willing buyer, willing
seller” approach, strengthening of ESTA legislation to provide
farm workers with greater security of tenure, and the basis of
reallocating resources such as water rights, have not yet been
figured out and addressed. In fact, there is more than enough
reason to be concerned about the potential implications of certain
schools of thought on policy changes relating to ownership and
commercial enterprises.
And yet, aspects such as sustainable and competitive agricultural
production are emerging more prominently and we have an
agriculture minister who is in favour of enhancing commercial
agriculture. This is indeed a welcome development and represents
a new search for balance which has lagged behind for too long.
International perspectives on agriculture
The biennial commodity and policy conference of the International
Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP) was held at the end of
July 2009 in Ireland against the backdrop of a worldwide economic
recession which agriculture has been unable to escape. The Irish
Farmer’s Association’s president, Padraig Walshe, pointed out
that prices of agricultural products had declined drastically and
that price instability and the credit crisis were making things
increasingly difficult for farmers. Sound familiar? Mr Walshe
added: “Excessive retail power is a problem in Ireland and
many countries as supermarkets push forever more profit at the
expense of the producers. Milk producers in Ireland receive less
than 20 percent of the retail price of milk, while the processors
receive 35 percent and the retailers 45 percent”. He recognised
the need for a code of practice to regulate the conduct of retail
chain stores. This may also be something to which the South
African Competition Commission could attend.
The conference also gave considerable attention to addressing
price stability of agricultural commodities. South African farmers
are extremely frustrated with such price instability, which makes
planning and especially investment decisions problematic and
even highly risky. South African agriculture could benefit from
heeding international opinion on this issue and evaluating it with
a view to local application. The National Agricultural Marketing
Council should attend to this matter, as should the Department
of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries which is currently looking
at a new agricultural marketing policy.
The issue of rural development and, more specifically, the
empowerment of women in agriculture, access for smallscale
producers to commercial markets and the alleviation of
poverty, were also discussed in depth. Given the South African
government’s new focus on rural development, these debates
at the IFAP conference make one wonder whether the former
Rural Development Foundation should not be revisited, albeit in
an acceptable format which can mobilise resources to make a
meaningful difference to the needs and challenges of our rural
to page 8

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STANDPUNT van bladsy 4
beskerm. Lewensbydraerfondse van affiliasies – waarop Agri
SA rente aan affiliasies betaal het en later onttrek is – asook
bankfinansiering is opgeneem om die projek deur te voer.
Mettertyd het die gebou se huurinkomste ‘n betekenisvolle
bydrae to Agri SA se befondsing gelewer, maar die brandskade
aan die gebou in 1994 het die organisasie finansieël geknou. Die
hantering van skuld wat aangegaan moes word om die gebou te
herstel het saamgeval met ‘n gewysigde finansieringsmeganisme
vir die organisasie en het die rasionalisering van Agri SA se
uitgawe profiel vereis. Desondanks het Agri SA daarin geslaag
om sy dienste op ‘n aanvaarbare vlak voort te sit en skuld te
delg.
Dit is egter nie in Agri SA se belang om sy hoofbelegging in een
gebou opgesluit te hou en heelwat tyd van bestuur aan gebou af
te staan nie. Daarom was daar ‘n mandaat verkry om die gebou te
verkoop indien dit teen ‘n aanvaarbare prys verhandel kan word.
Agri SA was in die gelukkige posisie om ‘n goeie sakebesluit
te neem om te verkoop en is tevrede dat aan die grondleggers
van die gebou se verwagtinge voldoen is om die organisasie se
bates op die wyse te beskerm en laat toeneem. Agri SA verhuis
in September na Centurion en ons vertrou dat dié skuif sal bydra
tot die organisasie se strewe na funksionele uitnemendheid. a
Hans van der Merwe, Uitvoerende Direkteur
VIEW POINT from page 4
areas. There are various projects underway in agriculture where
individuals or groups have already achieved much to break
the spiral of poverty and illiteracy and to offer communities an
opportunity for development and participation in the formal
economy. These examples could find much wider application
within a structured dispensation and could make a significant
difference in the lives of many people.
AGRI SA relocates
The SALU/SAAU building has been a landmark within the Pretoria
central business district for the past 40 years. It was originally
erected to protect the South African Agricultural Union’s modest
assets against inflation. Life contributor funds of affiliates - on
which Agri SA paid interest to affiliates and which were later
withdrawn – as well as bank financing were used to implement
the project. In due course rental income from the building
made a significant contribution to Agri SA’s funding but the fire
damage in 1994 plunged the organisation into financial difficulty.
Repayment of the debt that had to be incurred to restore the
building coincided with an amended funding mechanism for the
organisation, requiring rationalisation of Agri SA’s expenditure
profile. Agri SA nevertheless succeeded in continuing its service
delivery at an acceptable level and to repay its debt.
However, it was not in Agri SA’s interest to keep its principal
investment tied up in one building and to spend considerable
executive time on managing the building. For this reason, a
mandate was secured a long time ago to sell the building should
an acceptable offer be received. Agri SA was in the fortunate
position to make a balanced decision to sell and is satisfied that
the expectations of the founders of the building have been met,
namely to protect and grow the organisation’s assets. Agri SA
will be relocating to Centurion in September and we hope that
this move will contribute to the organisation’s efforts towards
functional excellence. a
Hans van der Merwe, Executive Director
8

agri Profile
The Cow Whisperer
Professor Cheryl McCrindle, a lady farmer who understands and ‘fixes’ animals, met with us
at the Onderstepoort Campus of the University of Pretoria.
This academic is a part time far
who, when she retires in 2011 ho
to pursue full time farming with
Bonsmara and Horse Stud.
She is a full Professor in the Section Veterina
Public Health of the Department of Paraclinic
Sciences, at the Faculty of Veterinary science o
the University of Pretoria, a veterinarian with
BVSc(Hons) in bacteriology and a doctorate i
Veterinary Ethology ( Animal Behavior).
Cheryl was born and raised in Johannesburg
and completed her schooling at Roosevelt
High School. Her love for farming originated
from visits to family members on a farm near
Rustenburg. Even at the age of three years
old she knew that she wanted to become a
veterinarian. By high school she also wanted
to farm, possibly because of her memories
of the smell and the sight of longhorned
Afrikander cattle in the early
dawn on her “oom Danie and Tannie
Bessie’s” farm, where she helped bake
bread in the old coal stove early every
morning and collected newly laid eggs
from the fowls.
Her husband Robert, who is also an
academic, is the cousin of one of her
best friends, and he accompanied her
to her matric dance. They got married
in 1969 and have three children, Jamie,
Alec and Sarah Jane. Only Sarah Jane
is inclined towards farming, both her
sons are in the information technology
field and prefer to work in an office.
agri Augustus/August • September 2009
Farmer’s day at Bethany. She regularly teaches Animal
Health to upcoming farmers.
Photo: Professor Cheryl McCrindle
6
n 1972 she bought her own piece of land
after qualifying in 1969 as a veterinarian.
The road from there is somewhat familiar to
many upcoming farmers today. She and Rob
lived in a caravan, whilst farming part-time
with 1 horse, 2 jersey cows, 5 sows and one
boar. The piglets were raised on concentrate
and sold, whilst the breeding pigs were
upplemented with leftovers from the kitchen,
egetables from the garden and perished
aches. She also sold home pasteurised
d churned butter and fresh cream, as well
eaches and straw berries in season. Finally
6, she and her husband, Rob, managed to
p enough money and energy to build their
house, but still continued to farm without
r. He fixed the water pump and tractor, while
ilked the cows and mucked out the stables
herself. All this was part-time as both
worked in order to get enough funds
to build up the farm.
In 1980 she bought 120 ha of farming
land and purchased her first Bonsmara
bull at an auction with the help of
the local farmer’s association, today
known as Agri Gauteng. She farms
mainly with Bonsmara cattle and
owns an Arabian and Quarter Horse
Stud. The horses are mainly used for
Western Riding, rounding up cattle on
the farm and showing. Her interest
lies particularly in training horse to
work cattle quietly and efficiently.

Photo: Professor Cheryl McCrindle
Photo: Professor Cheryl McCrindle
Cheryl on her Arabian mare
Ilizwe My Flair- Western Riding
Association Champion at Horse
of the Year in 2009.
Sarah Jane McCrindle, her
daughter, riding her Quarter
Horse stallion, Bronco
Captain Cape, at the Horse
of the Year in 2008.
“It is extremely difficult
for anyone who doesn’t
inherit a farm to get into
farming. The paperwork
that various legislation
brings in terms of water rights,
labour, funding and the like, is
especially daunting.”
Cheryl claims that 60% of
farming time is wasted on paperwork,
which could have been
utilised on farming. In 1990 she
joined the Medical University of
South Africa as a production
animal veterinarian and spent
the next 10 years working with
small scale farmers to improve
the health of their animals. Due
to her work with upcoming
farmers, she believes that
communal farming has a higher
potential profit margin, in fact
possibly even ten times more
than commercial farming, over
a period of time. The input costs
versus the outputs achieved are
more profitable when farming
on communal land with no land
taxes and using family labour. One of her aims is to improve the
productivity and fertility of livestock owned by upcoming farmers
so that they can truly realise the financial benefits.
It is her conviction that there are large areas available in the
previous homelands, which could be leased from either the chiefs
or the local municipalities, and that these lands are suitable for
agriculture.
7
“I work to be able afford to farm. My biggest frustration as a part
time farmer is that I cannot expand my farm because I do not
have the time. Cattle prices remain stagnant whilst my input costs
keep rising. I am only able to cover these expenses because I
have an alternative source of income”, she says.
In 2006 she was awarded the Shoprite–Checkers /SABC2 Woman
of the Year Award in the Education Category. This she received for
‘creating a new paradigm of thought and action in the veterinary
field, especially for her contribution to uplifting people of previous
disadvantaged communities in meaningful and productive ways
through teaching animal health and welfare’.
The award was mainly given to her because she developed web
based training courses to teach veterinarians, extension officers
and animal health technicians from Africa how to communicate
with and train small-scale farmers. There are still twenty to forty
participants who enrol for this module every year.
She believes that organised agriculture’s contribution to agriculture
is enormous and is currently a member of Agri Pretoria,
Gauteng.
“Not only is there a kindred spirit present at the meetings, but
Agri SA as a whole has done much to change the perceptions
of the nation. ‘Boer’ is less of a swear word because of their
efforts. The common language of the farmer is understood by
any culture, race or nationality.”
She also has appreciation for the bargaining done on behalf of
farmers. and is saddened by the lack of praise for farmers in the
media, as she believes it doesn’t contribute to motivating new
entrants. She says we should not follow the example of Britain,
where legislation now hampers farming to such an extent that
they have destroyed family farms and farming is now done by
large syndicates without the passion for farming, as they are only
interested in the bottom line.
Her advice to young farmers is to follow their dreams and to be
prepared to work hard. She believes it is possible to make a living
of farming and points out that there are many vacant positions as
farm managers.
“Start small. Be creative. Don’t give up. If you have access to
communal farming, make use of it.”
Cheryl believes that there will always be a future for farmers as
people will always need food. However,
the frustration of continually changing goal
posts with new regulations and forms to fill
in, as well as the low profit margins, makes
the farmers’ life difficult .
“The weak Rand should be used as an
export advantage, but that fact also makes
it difficult to keep up with international
prices on input costs.”
“We need to be able to export and break
down trade barriers. South African agriculture
is on par with world standards.
farming is a business that will need the
back up from private enterprise as there is
simply not enough money available from
state subsidies.”
In her free time she participates in Western
Riding Championships at major shows
and loves to spend time near animals,
especially horses and cows. a
Volume 38 No 4
ZELNA OBERHOLSTER

agri
agri
Nuus / News
Die doel van dié Memorandum soos opgestel deur Marietjie Jacobs van MacRobert Inc is om verslag
te doen na die konsultasie met Adv Gerrit Grobler SC en Adv Jannet Gildenhuys op 6 Mei 2009. Beide
advokate is gevra om sekere regsvrae wat ontstaan het na aanleiding van die uitspraak van Regter
Hartzenberg dat die Mineraal- en Petroleum Hulpbronne Ontwikkelingswet, Wet 28 van 2002 (“die
Wet”) inderdaad onteiening van mineraalregte tot gevolg gehad het.
Regsvrae na aanleiding van die
mineraleregte hofuitspraak
Die volgende spesifieke aspekte is be -
spreek:
VRAAG 1:
In terme van regulasie 82A het ‘n eiser
een jaar nadat hy bewus geword het of
rederlikerwys moes bewus gewees het
van die onteiening om die eis in te dien.
Die vraag is wat eienaar van grond en/
of mineraalreghouer moet doen om
rederlikerwys bewus te wees van die aard
en omvang van die mineraalregte ten einde
die eis in te dien?
ANTWOORD:
Adv Grobler SC bevestig dat die reg op
minerale onteien is en dat ‘n eis ingestuur
moet word vir onteiening van die eiendomsreg.
Alle eise moet dus voor April 2011
ingedien word. Indien ‘n eis ingedien is
waarin ‘n persoon byvoorbeeld slegs vir
vergoeding geëis het vir die verlies aan
steenkoolregte, besluit die hof oor die
kwantum in die betrokke verhoor van die
saak oor die steenkool. Indien dit egter na
die indiening van die eis, maar voor die
verhoor blyk dat ander mineraalregte ook
ekonomiese waarde het, sal dit slegs die
kwantum van die eis beïnvloed wanneer die
saak in die Hooggeregshof beslis word. So
‘n persoon sal slegs geleentheid hê om een
maal te eis en die eis behels die ontneming
van die reg op minerale in sy grond op
sterkte van onteiening wat deur die Wet
tot stand gekom het. As die verhoor egter
afgehandel is en dit blyk later dat ander
minerale ook verloor is, (byvoorbeeld, die
aanvanklike eis was vir steenkool en nou
blyk dit daar is ook diamante op die grond
waarvoor nie geeis is nie) kan ‘n persoon
nie weer ‘n eis indien. ‘n Persoon het nie die
reg om meer male ‘n eis in te dien indien
hy bewus word van verdere ekonomies
ontginbare minerale en dat die kwantum
van sy eis inderdaad groter behoort te
gewees het nie.
VRAAG 2:
‘n Vraag wat op die voornoemde volg is
of ‘n persoon wat wel ‘n eis vir onteiening
ingedien het vir sy verlies aan regte in
sekere minerale later uitvind dat daar ook
Augustus/August • September 2009
ander ontwikkelbare minerale op die grond
is, daarna weer ‘n eis kan indien of moes
hy rederlikerwys ten tye van die eerste eis
ge-eis het vir beide?
ANTWOORD:
Die normale gemeenregtelike beginsels
en die feite van elke geval sal bepaal
wat van ‘n persoon verwag kan word om
redelikerwys bewus te gewees het dat sy
mineraalregte onteien is. Dit is slegs in
hoogs uitsonderlike gevalle wat ‘n persoon
daarop sou kon steun dat hy nie bewus was
dat hy ‘n eis moes indien nie. Adv Grobler
SC is van mening dat weens die wye
publisiteit wat die aangeleentheid reeds
in die pers gehad het, ‘n persoon ‘n baie
skraal kans het om ‘n verweer te opper dat
hy nie voor April 2011 se eis ingedien het
nie, aangesien hy nie bewus was dat hy
sodanige eis kon indien nie. Die bepaling
wat in regulasie 82A vervat is wat verwys
na persone wat redelikerwys bewus geword
het van die verlies van die mineraalregte na
April 2011 sal uitsonderlike gevalle wees
waar ‘n persoon byvoorbeeld nie geweet
het dat hy die houer van mineraalregte
was op 1 Mei 2004 toe die Wet in werking
getree het nie. Sy advies is dus dat ons
die bestaande kliënte asook alle belange
groepe van Agri SA moet adviseer om wel
so spoedig moontlik eise in te dien.
VRAAG 3:
Het die feit dat die hof nou bepaal het dat die
wet onteiening daarstel, die bepalings van
die onteieningswet daarop van toepassing
gemaak? Indien wel, wat is die wisselwerking
van die twee wette? M.a.w. die normale
onteiening van grond het tot gevolg dat die
staat nie okkupasie kan neem tensy 80%
van die onteieningsvergoeding betaal is
nie. In die huidige mineraalreg gevalle ken
die staat prospekteer lisensies en in effek
okkupasie aan derde partye toe sonder om
enige vergoeding te betaal. Verder maak
die staat normaalweg aanvanklik ‘n aanbod
saam met die onteieningskennisgewing en
doen dit op sterkte van ‘n waardasieverslag
van ‘n waardeerder. In terme van Wet 28
van 2002 rus die onus op die eienaar om
die vergoeding teen hoë koste te bewys.
12
ANTWOORD:
Wat die wisselwerking tussen die onteieningswet
en die mineraalregwet
aanbetref is die advies dat die spesifieke
bepalings verwys na in regulasie 82A van
die mineralewet eers ter sprake kom nadat
die staat erken het dat ‘n eis bestaan en die
partye nou onderhandel en ooreen moet
kom oor die vergoeding betaalbaar. In wese
is die artikel 9 onteieningswetsprosedure
in die onteieningswet in die mineralewet
ingeskryf by wyse van regulasie 82A. Die
feit dat die betrokke regulasie verwys na
artikel 14 van die onteieningswet is nie
wesenlik nie, aangesien, in die Agri SA
geval, reeds dagvaarding uitgereik is omdat
die Staat nie die onteiening wil erken nie en
derhalwe nie ingestem het om ‘n spesifieke
bedrag vergoeding te bepaal nie. Dit is
dus nie korrek om ‘n afleiding te maak dat
die Staat eers ‘n onteieningshandeling
moet pleeg en terselfdetyd 80% van die
vergoeding aanbied nie. Normaalweg
kan die staat ‘n onteieningskennisgewing
in terme van die onteieningswet uitreik
sonder om vergoeding aan te bied, waarna
die bepalings van die onteieningswet soos
verwys na in regulasie 82A ter sprake kom.
Die twee wette is dus nie in konflik met
mekaar nie. Die prosedurele aspekte van die
onteieningswet is in die mineralewet vervat
om die onderhandeling en vasstelling van
die vergoeding te bepaal nadat die staat
wel erken het dat onteiening bestaan.
VRAAG 4:
Waar lê die eis vir die ontneming/onteiening
van die bogrond nadat die mineraalregte
aan ‘n derde party toegeken is? In meeste
gevalle kan die grond nie weer vir boerdery
doeleindes gebruik word nie. Wanneer en
teen wie word die eis ingestel?
ANTWOORD:
Wat die onteiening of ontneming van bogrond
weens mynbedrywighede op plaasgrond
aanbetref, is die advies dat alhoewel
artikel 54 van die mineralewet voorsiening
maak vir die eienaar van bogrond om
skadevergoeding van die mynmaatskappy
te eis, sou ‘n beter benadering wees om
eerder ‘n eis op sterkte van onteiening in
na bladsy 17

agri
Nuus / News
REGSVRAE NA AANLEIDING VAN DIE MINERALEREGTE HOFUITSPRAAK K van bladsy 12
terme van item 12 van die minerale wet
by die Direkteur Generaal van Myne in te
dien. Die advies is dat ‘n wyer benadering
en begrip by onteieningsvergoeding ter
sprake is as bloot skadevergoeding soos
voorsien in artikel 54 van die mineralewet.
Skadevergoeding is slegs een komponent
van onteieningsvergoeding en het howe
wêreldwyd die beginsel van werklike verlies
wat tranegeld insluit bevestig. In dien
die grondeienaar en mineraalreghouer dieselfde
persoon of entiteit is kan die twee
eise gelyktydig ingedien word of slegs
later vir die verlies aan bogrond geeis
word as die verlies eers later plaasvind.
VRAAG 5:
Is daar enige vooruitsigte van gesprekke
met die staat om die groter belange van
partye uit te klaar?
ANTWOORD:
Adv Grobler SC het ook bevestig dat
artikel 25(3) van die grondwet nie enige
beperking plaas op die betaling van billike
vergoeding nie. Aangesien die grondwet
juis voorsiening maak vir die betaling van
billike vergoeding beteken dit dat enige
beperking op onteieningsvergoeding in
enige wet in watter formaat ookal on grondwetlik
sal wees en billike ver goeding alles
omvattend is.
VRAAG 6:
Wat is die standpunt van die mynhuise in
die lig van die uitspraak? Oorweeg van
die mynhuise om ook eise in te dien?
Het Trevor Manuel wel die versekering
van die eertydse minister van minerale en
energie gekry dat die wetgewing nie tot
grootskaalse eise aanleiding sal gee nie?
ANTWOORD:
Verskeie myne het reeds eise ingedien
vir vergoeding en is die advies weereens
dat ons voortgaan om mineraalreghouers
te adviseer dat hul die nodige eise moet
indien.
VRAAG 7:
Is dit die advies dat ons nou die kliënt
behoort te adviseer om wel die onkostes
aan te gaan om eise in te dien in die lig van
die verloop wat die saak nog gaan neem?
ANTWOORD:
Wat die bewyslas op die mineraalreghouer
aanbetref is die advies dat met die indien
van die aanvanklike eis, die mineraalreghouer
soveel inligting as moontlik moet
voorsien, maar dat dit nie op die indien van
die eis stadium nodig is om gedetaileerde
waardasies en/of geologiese verslae
in te dien nie. Dié aspekte kan in meer
be sonderhede hanteer word indien die eis
afgewys word en die mineraalreghouer
dagvaarding in terme van regulasie 82A van
die Wet moet uitreik. Die mineraalreghouer
sal ten minste moet bewys kan lewer van
wat die markwaarde van die minerale
was ten tye van onteiening synde, 1 Mei
2004. Twee klasse van waardasies kom
ter sprake. Indien die mineraalregte in die
verlede hoofsaaklik ‘n rol gespeel het of ‘n
persoon ‘n hoër aanbod vir sy grond sou
ontvang het, is die aangewese persoon om
te gebruik ‘n waardeerder om te bepaal
wat die markwaarde van die mineraalregte
was. Die tweede kategorie is die grond
waar prospektering wel reeds plaasgevind
het. In so ‘n geval is die klassifikasie van
die mineraal belangrik en moet ‘n geoloog
‘n verslag aan die mineraalreghouer lewer.
Dit is egter nie op dié stadium nodig dat
enige van die verslae by die Direkteur
Generaal van Myne by die indien van die
eis ingedien word nie. ‘n Skatting van
die markwaarde van die mineraalreg wat
onteien is, is voldoende op die stadium en
kan die verslae dien om die presiese berdag
van die eis en omvang daarvan beter te
bepaal op verhoor van die saak voor die
hof. a
Nic Opperman, Direkteur: Natuurlike
Hulpbronne

ARTIKEL: ZELNA OBERHOLSTER
agri Nuus / News
In die ou Transvaal…
2009 – die eeufeesjaar van verskeie korporasies. NWK,
NTK, Suidwes en Senwes is die ko-öperasies van die
Noordelike provinsies wat in 1909 ontstaan het.
Hoekom juis in 1909? Dr JAS van Niekerk het reeds in
1986 onder andere navorsing hieroor bekend gemaak
in sy boek Koöperatiewe Teorie en Praktyk k en in 1994
Koöperatiewe Teorie en Praktyk Addendum 1. Volgens
sy skrywe was daar verskeie insidente wat landbou beiinvloed
het tussen 1870-1910. Die ontdekking van diamante, wat Suider
Afrika aanloklik gemaak het vir buitelanders, die ontdekking van
goud, die spoorweglyne wat veral behulpsaam was met vervoer
van wol en ander landbouprodukte. Laastens was daar die Anglo-
Boereoorlog wat die voormalige republieke onder Britse beheer
geplaas het. Die land moes fisies herbou word nadat die Britse
verskroeide aarde oorlogbeleid die velde swart gebrand het en
daar ernstige mielietekorte was. Landbou en mynbou was gesien
as die die twee sleutelbedrywe wat tot ekonomiese herstel kon
lei. Na die sluiting van die Vrede van Vereeniging in 1902 was die
land in armoede gedompel. Uitkoms was gesoek om markte te
skep vir produsente se produkte. Hiermee saam het metodes om
landbou in die land te bevorder onder bespreking gekom, onder
andere die stigting van koöperasies.
In 1905 het boere die koöperasiegedagte bespreek. Weens verskeie
struikelblokke het die toepassing daarvan verhoed en moes
dit eers op ys gesplaas word. Die Direkteur van Landbou het in
sy 1906/7 Jaarverslag pertinent gesê dat pogings aangewend sal
word om iemand te vind wat die boere kon oplei en inlig oor die
koöperasiewese.
Die Transvaalse regering het op Deense kundigheid staat gemaak
en in November 1907 het Stilling Andersen van Hannon die
leiding gegee met die stigting van Koöperasies. Hy het onder
andere gesamentlike bemarking van produsente se produkte
voorgestaan, maar spoedig besef dat een van die grootste tekortkominge
die gebrek aan ‘n koöperasiewet was, aangesien die
koöperasie nie deur wetgewing beskerm word of op finansiële
ondersteuning sou kon staatmaak daarsonder nie. Teen 30 April
1907 was daar reeds 53 koöperasies wat in wording was.
Daar was wel in 1907 ‘n wet aangeneem deur die Landbank van
Transvaal wat magtiging verleen het om lenings aan koöperasies
te bewerkstellig. Boere het geleidelik besef dat ‘konsolodering
Augustus/August • September 2009
28
van kragte’ die beste manier was om produkte se pryse te verhoog
en te kanaliseer. Dit het die stigting van verskeie landbou
koöperasies tot gevolg gehad, veral nadat ‘n Koöperatiewe
Kongres in 1908 in Pretoria gehou is.
Die eerste Koöperasiewet van Transvaal het op 1 Oktober 1908 in
werking getree, maar wysigings aan hierdie en die Landbankwet
moes eers gemaak word. Ontevredenheid dat 2/3 van die lede ten
gunste van ‘n lening van R200 of meer moes stem en die helfte
as voorskot op produkte moes stem, het gelei na ‘n komitee van
ondersoek wat wysigings moes voorstel.
Hierdie wysigings is voorgelê aan die Tweede Transvaalse
Kongres op 3 en 4 Junie 1909 en het gelei tot die Wysigingswet
wat op 16 Julie 1909 in werking getree het. En dit het gelei tot die
stigting van verskeie koöperasies.
NWK is gestig op 4 Mei 1909, gevolg deur Senwes op 15
Mei 1909. Waterberg Landbouwers’ Koöperatiewe Vereeniging
(van dag brekend as NTK) is op 29 Mei 1909 gestig, nadat 103
boere ooreengekom het tot die stigting daarvan. Die Suidwes
Ko-operasie is gestig op 16 Augustus 1909.
Aan die begin was die koöperasies onbeperk geregistreer en dit
het talle bankrotskappe tot gevolg gehad. Van die probleme was
ontrouheid van lede, gebrek aan kennis by die boere, ongemaklikheid
oor erkende bemarkingsmetodes, gepaardgaande met
problematiese bemarking van landbouprodukte en ‘n gebrek aan
behoorlike wetgewing met betrekking tot die werksaamhede van
die koöperasies.
na bladsy 30
Suidwes se hoofkantoor. Die Suidwes Ko-operasie is gestig op
16 Augustus 1909.
Senwes hoofkantoorgebou was geleë in Corrie de Kockstraat in Klerksdorp
en is amptelik geopen op 12 April 1947. (met vergunning van Senwes). NTK se eerste hoofkantoor.
agri

agri Nuus / News
Rekord-syfers lei nuwe eeu binne
Senwes se eenhonderdste bestaansjaar word vanjaar gevier met die onlangse aankondiging van ‘n rekord-omset en -winssyfer
as deel van die winsgewendste jaar in die geskiedenis van dié agri-besigheid.
As deel van die 100-jaar vieringe het Senwes ook sy stem by die woord gevoeg vir plaasveiligheid. ‘n Gedenklied is in opdrag
van Senwes gekomponeer en die opbrengs van die verkope van die DVD, wat die lied My Land bevat, sal aan die Agri Securitas
Trustfonds geskenk word.
Saam met Agri SA sit Senwes steeds skouer aan die wiel om die primêre landbouer as mededingende, volhoubare en
gewaardeerde rolspeler in voedselsekuriteit te posisioneer en te behou. a
Johan Dique, Besturende Direkteur: Senwes
In die ou Transvaal…
van bladsy 28
In 1939 was voorsiening gemaak vir koöperasies met beperkte
aanspreeklikheid deur die gewysigde Koöperatiewe wet, nadat die
1934 Kommissie bekendgemaak het dat die Kaapse Koöperasies
kragtens die maatskappywet geregistreer is en dat daar nie be -
perkende koöperatiewe wetgewing bestaan het nie. Die ‘rekbare
en los’ stelsel is vervang met een van beperkte aanspreeklikheid.
Agri SA se fondasies
In Julie 1904, het die Transvaalse Landbou-Unie (TLU) ‘n vergadering
gehou in die Wetgewende Raadsaal om ‘n Interkoloniale Landbou
Unie te bespreek. Sir Arthur Lawley het die verrigtinge ge open.
Die stamboek, die wesenlikheid van ‘n brandsiekwet, die bekamping
van Ooskuskoors, spoorwegtariewe, plantsiekte bestryding, die
bestryding van veldbrande, die onwenslikheid van vleismonopolies
en die voordele van koöperasies is bespreek. Dit het gelei tot die
ontstaan van die Suid-Afrikaanse Landbou Unie (SALU) en die
BusinessPrint’s best wishes to
Agri SA in your new home
Ons deel jul vreugde oor
die opwindende mylpaal
en groei geleentheid
May you prosper and grow even
more in your new offices!
agri
eerste kongres is in 1905 in Pietermaritzburg gehou.
Die koöperasies het gefokus op sake-aangeleenthede en het
bygedra tot die lewensvatbaarheid van boerdery. Die beleidsfunksies
van die SALU is later geïntegreer met die van koöperasies
deur die Koöperatiewe Raad daar te stel, wat na
die deregulering van die landboubemarking omskep is in ’n
Landboubesigheidskamer (LBK).
Die LBK bedien vandag ’n wye spektrum landboubesighede
en gemeenskaplike beleidsbelange in ’n noue samewerking
verhouding met die SALU se opvolger, Agri SA.
Agri SA bevorder vandag steeds die belange van boere op
plaaslike en nasionale vlak. Dit word gedoen deur staatkundige
en politieke grense te oorskry in soeke na geskikte oplossings.
Die leiding wat boere geneem het in 1904 met denke, woord en
daad is vandag steeds kenmerkend van Agri SA.
Agri SA wens alle koöperasies en lanboubesighede wat hierdie
jaar hul honderdjaar-bestaan vier, van harte geluk en bedank hul
vir hul ondersteuning deur die jare. a

agri
Nuus / News
Farewell to the ‘fire and water’ building”
Agri SA is moving from the SAAU building at the end of August. The South African Agricultural Union
(SAAU) building has been home to Agri SA for four decades. According to Mr Piet Swart, former CEO of
Agri SA, discussions to protect the then SAAU (South African Agricultural Union), against inflation was
started by the Capelands Agricultural Union, president, Mr Devilliers Laubscher. Today he is remembered
as the ‘father of the thought’. Mr Frans van Wyk, chairman of the Co-operation Board initiated
the idea of erecting a building and got the approval from the Board. The decision was unilateral.
Architects, Harris Fels Jankes Nussbaum were contracted and tenders for engineers, building contractors
etc. were invited. Mr Swart recalls that the total cost to build the SAAU building, including air
Aconditioners, lifts etc. was less than R3.5 million. The difference between the money made available
by the farmers and the cost, was loaned against a current account from Volkskas Bank. The major
role players in getting approval for the erection of the building and managing the finances and negotiations
were Frans Van Wyk, Chris Celliers (then CEO) and Jan Mouton. The building was officially opened on 21
October 1970 by the Minister of Agriculture, Senator D.C.H Uys.
Initially, only SAAU staff occupied the 28th and 29th floors and the rest of the building was rented out.
Criticism was abound about the size of the building as many thought the building to be a white elephant. Talks
to sell the building were entertained,
but it never came to fruition. After the
building was gutted by fire in 1994,
decisions had to be made again about
the viability to fix it up, mothball the top
floors until later or sell it as it were.
Sentrasure, issued a cheque to the
value of R28 million, one of the biggest
insurance payouts until then in the history
of South Africa.
Almost the entire history of Agriculture
in South Africa was lost, but working
documents could be savaged. Agri SA
is built on strong foundations, and so
too, the structure of the building, which
had almost no structural damage.
Jack Raath, former Executive Director
of Agri SA, remembers the shock and
amazement when they realized that the
building was in fact burning. He claims
that there was a small fire in die cellar
the day before the big fire, and when
told that they need to evacuate the
building he was sure it was a waste of
time as the fire could be put out. He
remembers that Mr Piet Swart went
down the stairs to fetch chairs in order
for the staff to climb onto the helicopter
to page 34
The front cover of the Agri, July 1984.
Johan Pienaar, seated in what
used to be his chair, in the
remains of the building.
31
The plaques on either side of
the Agri SA mirror indicates the
original opening of the building
and the new one, after the
restoration done after the fire.
V olume 38 No 4

agri
Farewell to the ‘fire and water’ building”
from page 30
from the roof. The real shock set in when they were allowed to
walk up the stairs to their offices and tried to figure out where
their desks were.
Many other staff who were employed at the time of the fire,
remembers the congeniality, loyalty and support from clients,
partners and strangers. They helped by supplying cell phones
or dropped of boxes with historical documents astounded
them and is part of the fond memories of that day. Total SA
provided the management of Agri SA with cell phones in order
to communicate. Staff remember working in the ‘gat’ right at the
bottom of the building, working and trying to salvage historical
documents. Others remember the scary ordeal of taking a leap of
faith from the roof of the building to the helicopter ladders. The
building was re-opened on 15 June 1994.
Agri SA has now sold the SAAU-building at a reasonable price.
Although years of history and fond memories and sentiments
will be remembered, new history will be made on the same
foundations of a strong organisation.
This will thus be our last issue from the 28th floor of one of
Pretoria’s landmark buildings. Now it is time for a new era, and
the offices will be moved to the Inkwazi building in Centurion,
by the end of August. Agri SA would like to thank all of its past
and present staff, partners and members for helping to achieve
its goals.
The same commitment, loyalty and resolve will take Agri SA to
new heights. a
34

agri
Fokus / Focus
NEW SOLUTION TO SA’S VERMIN PROBLEM
This year, the food industry will have to comply with
HACCP in order to be issued permits to trade. This
means that, with health regulations becoming more
stringent, business owners and farmers must find
ways of solving their vermin problems.
New, electromagnetic technology which has helped
Australia deal effectively with its mice, rat and other pest
problems has been launched in South Africa where rodent
populations are now reaching epidemic proportions.
Plug-In Pest Free has been heralded as the new ‘pied piper in
town’. It eradicates all rats, mice and cockroaches from buildings
and is the most cost-effective way of controlling the problem. The
unit plugs into the wall socket and creates an electro-magnetic
After this it was identified by Mr Ian
Millar, a taxonomist of the National
Insect Collection in Pretoria. The
discovery of the Pomegranate whitefly
(Siphoninus phillyreae) is a further headache
for South African fruit farmers and
gardeners. Recently Prof Giliomee’s
discovery of the exotic Woolly whitefly
(Aleurothixus floccosus), which attacks
citrus, also made the headlines.
Contrary to what their name suggests,
these insects are not flies but are rather
more closely related to scale insects and
aphids. The adults look like tiny moths
and fly around rapidly while at the
younger stages they are suctioned onto
the underside of leaves. According to
Prof Giliomee, these whiteflies have the
potential to become very troublesome and
to do a great deal of damage.
When they arrived in California in 1988,
the whiteflies affected many shrubs and
trees so badly that the plants lost all their
leaves and the harvest of fruit trees was
reduced.
“Young pear trees even died as a result of
repeated exfoliation,” Prof Giliomee says.
“In cities and towns, the sticky honeydew
that is secreted during the sap-sucking
early stages, landed on cars and on people
and was even carried into houses by the
wind to make carpets and furniture sticky
too.
“It was intolerable and the pest was only
brought under control in California when
parasites were imported,” he said.
The Pomegranate whitefly originates in
countries around the Mediterranean Sea
like Spain, Italy, Israel and Egypt where,
apart from garden shrubs, it attacks a
wide range of fruit trees. It later spread
to India, Iran and New Zealand. A great
number of pomegranate cuttings have
been imported into South Africa from
Israel and India in the past few years. Prof
field around the wiring of the premises. Its primary benefit
to the agricultural industry would be to protect storehouses,
barns, warehouses and packing plants from rodents eating the
harvested grain, bailed produce, or seeds and supplements.
The Plug-In Pest Free unit has been passed by both SABS and
HACCP (Hazard Analytical Critical Control Point) and has been
successfully tested in various scientific double blind tests.
The system works in ridding grain and seed storage areas of rats
and prevents them gnawing through wires and floors, paper and
packaging etc., in buildings.
It is also environmentally friendly and saves money. Pets are not
exposed to toxic and poisonous rat pellets, and rats that have
eaten the pellets won’t poison barn owls. For more information,
please contact Will Gubb on 021 464 1144 or 071 602 5793. a
The exotic Pomegranate or Ash whitefly, which can severely damage garden shrubs, apple and pear trees, olive trees,
citrus and pomegranate trees, was noticed recently for the first time in South Africa by Professor Jan Giliomee, a
research associate at the Department of Botany and Zoology at Stellenbosch University.
Another harmful whitefly establishes
itself in South Africa
Colonies of the immature Pomegranate
whitefly attached to leaves by suction.
agri Augustus/August • September 2009 44
PHOTO CREDIT: STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY/ANTON JORDAAN
Giliomee surmises that the new whitefly
entered the country with plant material
that was brought in illegally and did
not go through the quarantine process
required by law.
Prof Giliomee says he saw the insect here
for the first time on a wild olive tree in the
garden of his beach house at Vermont
on the Overberg coast. A month later he
received heavily infested pomegranate
leaves from a farmer at Halfmanshof near
Porterville, who suspected that it was the
Woolly whitefly. Mr Millar then established
that they were, however, also examples of
the new arrival.
“The fact that the appearance of these
whiteflies is already so widespread indicates
that they have been in the country
for some time and can therefore not be
eradicated,” he stated.
“The question is now whether the numbers
are going to remain relatively low
or whether the situation in California is
going to repeat itself here,” Prof Giliomee
said. “It must now be established whether
wasps that prey on the pest are present
here and, if not, they must be imported
urgently.”
No remedies have yet been tested for
combating the whitefly. a
Engela Duvenage
For more information, please contact Prof
Jan Giliomee, (021) 808-2718 or jhg@sun.
ac.za

agri Travel / Reis
Shangri-La
COMPETITION! AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2009
Win a weekend for two, bed and breakfast included at Shangri-La
Just answer this question on the back of a post card: What does Shangri-La mean?
Send your name, contact details and the answer to: Agri Travel Competition: August/September 2009, PO Box 1508, Pretoria 0001
Closing date: 30 September 2009
COMPETITION RULES:
1. The first correct entry drawn will win a weekend for two people,
breakfast included, at Shangri-La. The judges' decision is final
and no discussion or correspondence will be entered into in this
regard.
2. The winner's name will be published in Agri.
agri
Place of Eternal Youth
En-route to the riches of Southern
Africa and the Great Limpopo
Trans fortier Park (Kruger National
Park) between Bela Bela (Warmbaths)
and Modimolle (Nylstroom) lays a secret
gem. The Shangri-La is a secluded hideaway
of breath taking beauty and a sanctuary of peace and
tranquillity nestled against the backdrop of the Waterberg,
overlooking the Nile Valley.
The elegance and charm of yesteryear is captured in this
home way from home. The rooms are individually
decorated with antique masterpieces
echoing the African Colonial Charm of the main
complex.
It is situated in a malaria free area and is only
one-hour drive from Gauteng. In addition to
sublime accommodation, there is a romantic
country style chapel, seating sixty guests.
The high quality conference facilities include
open-air venues and can each seat from two to
one hundred guests. a
For bookings contact SA Hospitality Solutions at fax: (012) 348-0591 or contact Dries at 082 327 3019.
The winner of the previous competition is RW Gibson, Kokstad
3. The prize may not be exchanged for cash. Agri i accepts no
responsibility whatsoever with regard to arrangements of the
prize.
4. Employees and family members of the Shangri-La and Agri i or their
promotion agencies may not participate in the competition.
5. Answers may be given in either Afrikaans or English.