South Africa in Recession After Land Threat
BartSimpson @ Wed Sep 05, 2018 9:15 am
Full title: South Africa in Recession After Land Threat: ‘Shocking Drop in Agriculture’
$1:
South Africa slid into an official recession Tuesday, as second-quarter growth domestic product (GDP) figures showed a contraction of 0.7% — the second straight quarter of decline. First-quarter figures were revised down, from -2.2% to -2.6%.
The main culprit, according to South Africa’s Business Day, was a sharp contraction in the agricultural sector, which has been under political assault this year as the ruling African National Congress has pledged “expropriation without compensation.”
The Business Day described the “shocking drop in agriculture,” which single-handedly tipped the economy into recession:
The recession is not quite “shocking” to opponents of the South African government’s land reform policy, which is ostensibly aimed at redressing racial inequalities in land ownership, but which critics have called a threat to property rights in general.
Though the policy only began in earnest last month, following a televised address by Cyril Ramaphosa, the newly-installed president had already declared that the government would pursue “expropriation without compensation” in February, during his “State of the Nation” address.
“Guided by the resolutions of the 54th National Conference of the governing party, this approach [to land redistribution] will include the expropriation of land without compensation,” Ramaphosa announced.
Farmers appear to have responded to those signals by taking fewer risks, preserving scarce capital rather than gambling it on a new crop in South Africa’s drought-prone climate when the value of their land, and security of their tenure, was at stake.
Last month, President Donald Trump caused controversy by tweeting that he had directed the Secretary of State to study the issues of land reform and farm murders in South Africa. The South African government accused him of “colonial” rhetoric.
The main culprit, according to South Africa’s Business Day, was a sharp contraction in the agricultural sector, which has been under political assault this year as the ruling African National Congress has pledged “expropriation without compensation.”
The Business Day described the “shocking drop in agriculture,” which single-handedly tipped the economy into recession:
$1:
Most analysts had expected a moderate increase in GDP.
…
But the most shocking number in the statistics is the precipitous 29.2% decline in agricultural production over the second quarter.
…
Statistics SA said: “The decrease was mainly because of a drop in the production of field crops and horticultural products”.
The agriculture “detracted a significant 0.8% from the headline outcome”, Investec said.
…
But the most shocking number in the statistics is the precipitous 29.2% decline in agricultural production over the second quarter.
…
Statistics SA said: “The decrease was mainly because of a drop in the production of field crops and horticultural products”.
The agriculture “detracted a significant 0.8% from the headline outcome”, Investec said.
The recession is not quite “shocking” to opponents of the South African government’s land reform policy, which is ostensibly aimed at redressing racial inequalities in land ownership, but which critics have called a threat to property rights in general.
Though the policy only began in earnest last month, following a televised address by Cyril Ramaphosa, the newly-installed president had already declared that the government would pursue “expropriation without compensation” in February, during his “State of the Nation” address.
“Guided by the resolutions of the 54th National Conference of the governing party, this approach [to land redistribution] will include the expropriation of land without compensation,” Ramaphosa announced.
Farmers appear to have responded to those signals by taking fewer risks, preserving scarce capital rather than gambling it on a new crop in South Africa’s drought-prone climate when the value of their land, and security of their tenure, was at stake.
Last month, President Donald Trump caused controversy by tweeting that he had directed the Secretary of State to study the issues of land reform and farm murders in South Africa. The South African government accused him of “colonial” rhetoric.
Give it another year or so and we'll start hearing about starvation in South Africa.
BartSimpson @ Wed Sep 05, 2018 9:21 am
On a related note, my friend Daniel who used to be a farmer in SA up until around 1998 tells me that the farms that have been seized so far have been pillaged and are completely out of production.
Irrigation pipes and equipment are being torn out and sold as scrap, farm equipment is being sold mostly to Brazil, and livestock are being slaughtered for meat with no thought to preserving herds for the future.
I fully expect to start hearing about starvation and famine by 2020. And I will adamantly oppose any taxpayer funded relief for South Africa.
Let them starve. 
Thanos @ Wed Sep 05, 2018 9:21 am
The ANC and the rest of the kooks over there are obviously following the Stalin and Mao playbook fairly closely. Trigger an agricultural crisis with the threat of land appropriation, wait for a food crisis to develop, then suddenly exclaim out "you know what will solve this? MORE appropriation!".
Yeah, they'll be like Zimbabwe or Venezuela in about five more years. There's probably no stopping the catastrophic collapse the lunatics are openly working towards.
llama66 @ Wed Sep 05, 2018 9:23 am
I have a friend who lives in the UK now who said his ex's mum (she's 70..) was kidnapped and beaten recently. Its getting pretty bad over there.
BartSimpson @ Wed Sep 05, 2018 9:25 am
llama66 llama66:
I have a friend who lives in the UK now who said his ex's mum (she's 70..) was kidnapped and beaten recently. Its getting pretty bad over there.
It is. I hope that President Trump follows through with his chatter about offering refugee status to the white South Africans who are forced to flee the genocidal pogrom that's already started in that soon-to-be shithole.
CharlesAnthony @ Wed Sep 05, 2018 11:03 am
$1:
The farmers are prepared to make a contribution to Russia’s booming agricultural sector, according to Rossiya 1. Each family is ready to bring up to $100,000 for leasing the land.
Russia has 43 million hectares of unused farmland, and has recently begun giving out free land to Russian citizens to cultivate farming. The land giveaway program, which began in 2014, has been a huge success.
‘A matter of life & death’: 15,000 white South African farmers seek refuge in Russia, report says
Russia has 43 million hectares of unused farmland, and has recently begun giving out free land to Russian citizens to cultivate farming. The land giveaway program, which began in 2014, has been a huge success.
llama66 @ Wed Sep 05, 2018 11:03 am
And the libs want to hand more power to the FN who view us in much the same way as the blacks view the white Afrikaners.
Zipperfish @ Wed Sep 05, 2018 12:30 pm
llama66 llama66:
And the libs want to hand more power to the FN who view us in much the same way as the blacks view the white Afrikaners.
As well they should. If you were native, how else would you see it? "I used to fish here and hunt there, but then somebody with a gun came and said I had to live over there, and couldn't fish where I wanted to fish anymore." However in Canada, the smallpox epidemic and various wars and massacres reduced the number of natives, so I don't think we'll see the same thing here as in South Africa.
llama66 @ Wed Sep 05, 2018 1:00 pm
FN peoples has the right to fish/hunt on crown land. Maybe not to the same effect, but we've already seen attempts at it here, Caledonia, Ipperwash and Oka all come to mind.
Given half the chance any so-called marginalized people would exact revenge on who they perceive as their oppressors, regardless of whether these people were complicit or not.
Zipperfish @ Wed Sep 05, 2018 2:13 pm
llama66 llama66:
FN peoples has the right to fish/hunt on crown land. Maybe not to the same effect, but we've already seen attempts at it here, Caledonia, Ipperwash and Oka all come to mind.
Given half the chance any so-called marginalized people would exact revenge on who they perceive as their oppressors, regardless of whether these people were complicit or not.
Given half the chance any so-called marginalized people would exact revenge on who they perceive as their oppressors, regardless of whether these people were complicit or not.
"Maybe not to the same effect" -- exactly. Just sharing the view from the native side.
BartSimpson @ Wed Sep 05, 2018 2:51 pm
llama66 llama66:
Given half the chance any so-called marginalized people would exact revenge on who they perceive as their oppressors, regardless of whether these people were complicit or not.
Memo to the oppressors: Make sure you finish the job.
Just me, but it'd be nice if people would stop fighting their grandfather's wars.
herbie @ Wed Sep 05, 2018 5:03 pm
llama66 llama66:
And the libs want to hand more power to the FN who view us in much the same way as the blacks view the white Afrikaners.
Why don't you stop commenting about natives and native issues until you actually know something about them? Or you and your buddies constantly spewing the same tired shit your grandparents did will become a self-fulfilling prophesy.
Zipperfish @ Wed Sep 05, 2018 6:34 pm
BartSimpson BartSimpson:
llama66 llama66:
Given half the chance any so-called marginalized people would exact revenge on who they perceive as their oppressors, regardless of whether these people were complicit or not.
Memo to the oppressors: Make sure you finish the job.
Just me, but it'd be nice if people would stop fighting their grandfather's wars.
That's what it's all about though, in the end. What struggles do you see that don't hearken back generations?
llama66 @ Wed Sep 05, 2018 9:13 pm
herbie herbie:
llama66 llama66:
And the libs want to hand more power to the FN who view us in much the same way as the blacks view the white Afrikaners.
Why don't you stop commenting about natives and native issues until you actually know something about them? Or you and your buddies constantly spewing the same tired shit your grandparents did will become a self-fulfilling prophesy.
It’s good to see you’ve not been paying attention. I’ve actually advocated restarting from zero. FN being being treated as equals, no Reserves, no IA, just leaving the past in the past, but the apologist SJW bleeding heart component of the population is hell bent to make EVERY Canadian feel responsible for the actions of our parents and grandparents. This stupidity involving Sir John A. (and Edward Cornwallis) is a symptom of this madness sweeping the nation. Of course I know about the plight of the FN people, it’s fucking shoved down everyone’s throat every chance the left gets, be it through the CBC, the SJW on the street or here.
herbie @ Wed Sep 05, 2018 10:19 pm
Sort of like how "just be equal" happens all by itself is shoved down people's throats like some simplistic Nancy Reagan motto by those who must include every alt-right term and target to impress their bum buddies?