Business@iafrica.com reader 'Smith' agrees with suggestions made by Agriculture Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson that farmers should transfer up to 40 percent of their farm value to black shareholders.

Having lived in several African countries (south of the Sahara) since 1961 ? starting with the Congo, later Zaire, and then DRC again ? it has been a painful experience. The countries with a colonial history were unprepared for the task of 'independence'. These countries had to learn the hard way but finally things are changing.

However, South Africa remains a different cup of tea. For hundreds of years the majority of the South Africa's population was down-trodden and generation after generation was made to have a low self-esteem through the psychological act of racism. The majority was denied of getting their fair share of land.

Money is not everything in life and the blacks in many African countries are economically poorer than the blacks in South Africa but still they are better off. They have not for generations been made to believe they are second to the white man when it comes to IQ.

Some time back it was suggested that white South Africans should apologize to black South Africans. That came to nothing. In that context giving 40 percent of the land back to the black South African population is a much better handshake from the whites. And even so the whites still remain with a better deal.

In 1945 in Europe most of the people behind the iron curtain lost all their properties as part of the history. In such context losing only 40 percent is an evolution of fairness. The greed of the white Rhodesians resulted in losing everything. The winner took it all (though wasted it, but that's another issue). The history of Europe is full of the same.

Considering the winner could take it all, 40 percent is a very civilized figure, a small donation in the name of justice.

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