Top South African company explains why no white farmers are allowed in its development programme
De Beers’ rural farmer capacity development programme only allows 100% black-owned and managed farms, and has been criticised for excluding a part of the farming community.
In a brochure published online, De Beers Venetia Mine invited existing farmers within the Blouberg and Musina Local Municipality to the development programme.
“The programme seeks to enhance the lives of local rural communities by creating jobs along the agriculture value chain,” it said.
It further aims to improve food security through increased and improved food production within its labour-sending areas.
According to the document, Lima Rural Development, a non-governmental and non-profit organisation established in 1989, is involved in the project.
Lima provides a sustainable and integrated rural development service to rural communities in South Africa.
It achieves this by establishing institutions, promoting local economic development, and providing training to empower rural people, particularly women, in their development efforts.
“Lima believes that an inclusive development process is critical for impactful and sustainable social transformation in rural and farming communities,” it said.
“Emphasis is placed on incorporating marginalised people, not only into development interventions but also into the mainstream economy.”
Lima partners with private organisations, government, community and public sector stakeholders to ensure that development and social reform objectives are met.
De Beers Group is one of Lima’s partners, along with numerous other prominent companies, such as Anglo American, Afrimat, Gold Fields, and Exxaro.
The programme is open to registered farmers within the Blouberg Local Municipality and Musina Local Municipality who are willing to be developed over 12 months.
They must also have access to at least 5 hectares of land, an average annual income of less than R100,000, and sufficient water.
Another restriction has caused a stir online – only 100% black-owned and managed farms are eligible to participate in the programme.
Excluding white farmers from the programme criticised
Trade union Solidarity’s chief executive, Dr. Dirk Hermann, criticised De Beers for excluding white farmers from its 2025 Rural Farmer Capacity Development Programme.
“This is a harsh, exclusionary race-based approach. It is morally wrong, unlawful, and violates international standards,” Hermann claimed.
“A large company like De Beers should not simply follow ANC ideology, but should instead do what is right.”
Hermann added that such an absolute race-based approach undoubtedly meets the definition of racial persecution.
“We will encourage any individual disadvantaged by the program to take legal action. This is the kind of racial approach we should not be patient about,” he said.
De Beers explains its decision
De Beers Group explained that its Venetia Mine’s Rural Farmer Capacity Development programme is part of its Building Forever sustainability framework.
This framework focuses on creating sustainable economic opportunities in its host communities of Blouberg and Musina.
“Agriculture has been identified as a key economic driver, and this programme is one element of a broader agricultural strategy to support long-term rural development,” it said.
Specifically, the Rural Farmer Capacity Development programme aims to support both new and established farmers in the potato and vegetable value chains.
This is done by addressing well-known challenges, including access to finance and markets, infrastructure, and technical skills.
The programme’s goal is to help small-scale and micro-farmers improve their production, quality, and infrastructure.
It enables them to move along the development spectrum toward commercial participation and viability.
“The focus on black-owned and managed farms in this particular programme reflects a targeted approach to support a historically underrepresented group in commercial agriculture,” it said.
The programme is being implemented in communal areas on traditional land, where most of the participants are black and where development has often been limited.
“It is designed to bring opportunity to these areas and support growth where it is most needed,” De Beers said.
While this particular programme is focused on small and micro black-owned farms, De Beers Venetia Mine is committed to supporting the regional agriculture sector more widely.
It is also investing in an Agri-Services Hub that will support all farmers in its host communities.
De Beers 2025 Rural Farmer Capacity Development Programme Brochure
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