AgriSA

South Africa-Congo ‘land grab’: Exploitation or salvation?
- Mail & Guardian
- 12 Mar 2010
The Congo ventures are not core businesses to be based in the Congo but instead, extensions of businesses located in South Africa
The South Africa-Congo concession: Exploitation or salvation?
- Pambazuka
- 07 January 2010
The much-discussed Congo land-lease, granting 200,000 hectares to South African farmers with a further 10 million hectares in the balance, appears to mark a departure from the usual terms underpinning foreign acquisition of fertile land by multinationals
Farmers sample what Libya offers
- Business Day
- 09 November 2009
De Jager is worried about Libya’s record in enforcing contracts with foreign companies, and the lack of social support networks. “There’s a lot of money to be made for someone with balls,” he says.
SA to assist Libya to revive farming
- Business Day
- 02 November 2009
The delegation hopes to conclude an agreement with the Libyan government that sets out commercial terms, including investment protection, tenure security and incentives.
Green light for new pastures
- Financial Mail
- 30 October 2009
De Jager is most excited about an impending Agri SA fact-finding mission to Libya at the invitation of President Muammar Gaddafi. "If we succeed there, we can succeed anywhere in Africa."
Congo farmland deal welcomed
- SAPA
- 22 October 2009
The Congolese government said it had signed similar agreements with China, Brazil and Israel.
Agricultores sudafricanos satisfechos de acuerdo agrícola con República Congo
- EFE
- 21 October 2009
El ministro de agricultura congoleño, Rigobert Maboundou, dijo que este acuerdo forma parte de un Plan de Acción de su Gobierno para consolidar la agricultura como un pilar de su economía y que, además de este pacto, el mayor de este tipo firmado en África, tienen otros similares con China, Brasil e Israel.
Congo hands land to South African farmers
- The Telegraph
- 21 October 2009
There has been criticism of the deal in France, pointing out that Denis Sassou-Nguesso, the Congolese president, is widely considered to be severely corrupt. But de Jager believes such attacks are motivated by a desire to protect French [farm export] interests against competition.
Congo Brazzaville/South Africa land deal
- BBC
- 21 October 2009
Peter Ndoro spoke to Dr Yao Graham, coordinator of Third World Network-Africa, a development agency, asking whether these deals really transfer technical expertise to locals.
South Africa’s white farmers prepare to trek to the Congo
- National Post
- 21 October 2009
"The motivation for South African farmers is simple," said Theo de Jager, Agri SA's deputy president, who helped negotiate the deal. "One in four farms must be redistributed in the next four or five years. So for new entrants into the sector and for those farmers who want to expand there is nowhere to go."
Should Africa resist 'land grabbing'?
- BBC
- 21 October 2009
Can these deals benefit Africa? Have you been affected by one of these land deals? Should countries be leasing fertile land to foreign investors? Join a live BBC debate on 21 October 2009.
SA farmers sign Congo land deal
- Reuters
- 21 October 2009
South Africa has signed a deal with the Republic of Congo that will give SA farmers access to up to 10 million ha of farmland, the country's biggest farmers' union said on Tuesday.

Sign the petition to stop the deployment of police/military and criminalisation of peasants struggling for their land against oil palm plantation company in Buol Regency, Sulawesi, Indonesia