The “swart gevaar” is back.
It was an old apartheid tactic that was used to sow fear among the white population, and to justify suppressing the black majority.
There was more of it in the early ’90s during the transition to democracy.
Remember the wild rumours and unfounded fears that Nelson Mandela and his ANC would wage a civil war in which wit mense would be wiped out and driven into the sea?
In anticipation of the imminent doomsday, many white families cashed up, sold off their land and last possessions and emigrated - to Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Europe and North America.
This exodus was known as the “chicken run”.
Many returned, though, upon discovering that the “swart gevaar” was nothing but a false alarm, and the grass wasn’t exactly greener on the other side.
Now the panic has set in yet again, with discussions around expropriation of land without compensation.
Parliament has already voted in favour of amending the Constitution, so there doesn’t seem to be any turning back.
Look, it’s a process that has to happen.
If there’s something ALL South Africans can agree on, it’s that the land ownership situation in this country is completely unacceptable, and unsustainable.
According to a land audit report, white people still own around 72% of the farms owned by individuals, coloured people own 15%, Indians five percent and blacks - who make up the majority of the people - only own
four percent.
Something has to be done about it, so what’s the plan? What’s Cyril Ramaphosa going to do about it?
What you shouldn’t do is what the DA did and sow panic, with their latest mass SMS which reads: “ANC and EFF working together to take all private homes and land. You can only stop this if you are registered correctly to vote.”
Talk about putting 2 and 2 together and getting 22...
This was in stark contrast with what the President said in Parliament this week.
Ramaphosa warned against Zimbabwe-style land grabs, saying “the police must immediately ensure that those applying smash-and-grabs are arrested”.
Even Julius Malema said: “No one is going to lose his or her house. No one is going to lose his or her flat. No one is going to lose his or her factory or industry.”
Ramaphosa also invited all parties to be involved in land reform, saying: “It is critical to make this an inclusive process in which all South Africans are actively involved in finding just and equitable and lasting solutions.”
Land expropriation would not only apply to farm land, but also urban property.
That’s the official line, anyway.
If you don’t agree with the process, rek jou bek.
Or you can always take up the offer of Australia’s Home Affairs minister.
Peter Dutton instructed his department to consider fast-tracking the visa applications of white SA farmers who want to escape the “horrific circumstances” they are forced to endure in their home country.