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Editorial Comment

Oneiening: inderdaad rooiligte!
Die stipulasies van die voorgestelde Wet op Onteiening tas onmiskenbaar lang gevestigde beginsels in die Suid-Afrikaanse eiendomsreg aan. Onder enige normale omstandighede tot nou toe in SA was vaste eiendom in besit van 'n private eienaar en wetiglik bekom op die basis van vrye markprys, ononderhandelbaar. Nou bepaal die voorgestelde wet dat die beginsel gewillige koper / verkoper word afgeskaf, terwyl die minister na goeddunke private grond kan onteien teen 'n prys van goeddunke en die eienaar het nie veel van 'n verhaalreg in die howe nie. Hierdie is inderdaad speel met vuur, want as 'n regering en / of minister gaan begin outoritêr optree, soos al te dikwels in ander Afrikalande gebeur het, dan word een van die hoekstene van die SA ekonomie uitgeruk. Dit sou Suid-Afrika op dieselfde tragiese pad plaas as Zimbabwe en talle ander Afrikastate. Die rooiligte flikker inderdaad en dit is van kardinale belang dat die sakesektor in die Vrystaat vir Vrystaat Landbou steun in hul beoogde opstelling van 'n strategiese vertoë in hierdie verband.

Fast-changing times
Looking a bit wider than the Free State, it is clear that we are living in fast-changing times. The Iraq War has plunged the United States in deep debt and that in turn has been the main reason for the global economy moving towards recession. Oil and food prices are shooting up and famine for millions of poor people across the world is becoming a real threat. Nearer at home the Zimbabwe poling fiasco with its ramifications has pushed the sub-continent towards a powder keg. So times are changing for the worst, but the silver lining is developments like the 60 000 Mighty Men prayer gathering the past weekend in KZN, confirming that man proposes but God disposes. It is a time for cool heads, great courage and firm faith in God through Jesus Christ. Ultimate power and victory rests with Him.