Expropriation for Chinese interests, group claims

The South African Government’s attempts to expropriate two Akkerland Boerdery farms, Lukin and Salaita – situated about 60km from Louis Trichardt (Makhado) – at 10% of the market value is using land reform as a pretext to hide the real motives behind expropriation – that the government wants access to coal reserves under the surface of these farms to facilitate expansion of the Chinese Government’s economic interests in SA. That’s the view of civil rights organisation AfriForum, Akkerland Boerdery, the agricultural organisation TAU SA, the trade union Solidarity and Agri Limpopo, which presented the argument at a joint media conference in Pretoria last week. They claim in a statement on the Politicsweb site that Chinese Government-controlled companies were planning development to the value of $10bn in the Musina-Makhado special economic zone, in which Akkerland falls. Exploration by the controversial Coal of Africa on Akkerland indicates that the farm’s coal is suitable for use in power stations and steel factories. According to the organisations, government needs the coal reserves on the farms because the Chinese development includes, among others, the building of a coal-powered power station, a coal plant and various metallurgical plants.