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Johannesburg - Farms will not be taken from owners without compensation, ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe said on Wednesday.
"If your land is sold it will be for compensation," he said in response to questions from commercial farmers in Johannesburg.
"Your farms will not be grabbed without compensation."
He said the fears of commercial farmers and the aspirations of emerging farmers needed to be dealt with and balanced.
"All South Africans must have access to land. What the ANC will not do is out of fear, do nothing. It's about overcoming fear."
He said government was subsidising development, and not inefficiency, as stated by one farmer at the event.
Mantashe said farmers developed at different paces by taking different routes.
"Small is a stage in development. We must not be angry with being small. You will grow," he said.
The "mentorship" of emerging farmers by commercial farmers was to help others and themselves.
"We co-exist, black and white, we are neighbours. It is about talking with neighbouring farmers," Mantashe said.
"In the process you get value, something that will take you four years to learn in college."
The mentorship must not be for money, he said.
"It's about helping each other."
He said agriculture had to create wealth.
Quoting former president Nelson Mandela, Mantashe said no one was born hating each other.
"Everybody is taught to hate. Our duty is to teach you to love each other, appreciate each other. Everyone wants to succeed," said Mantashe.
"Then your project will be a project of love, it's as simple as that."
