20 March 2007
Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs Advocate Dirk du Toit
cordially invites members of the foreign, national and local media to join him
on his tour to Eden district in George on 30 to 31 March 2007.
Agrarian and land reform is not only critical for addressing the legacies of
the past, but also an indispensable strategic intervention as a foundation for
both national and economic growth and development. Experience in Africa, China,
etc has firmly confirmed the catalystic nature of land and agrarian reform in
stimulating growth and development, both nationally and locally, and improving
the socio-economic life of communities.
The purpose of the tour is to showcase successful Land Reform Projects, Land
Redistribution and Tenure Security/Settlement Projects in the Eden District in
George and to review 2006/7 financial year.
Details of the tour are as follows:
Date: 30 March 2007
Activity: media briefing
Time: 18h00
Venue: Riempie Protea Hotel (Oudsthoorn) George, Western Cape
Date: 31 March 2007
Activity: Visit the first project: Welgelek (Esta Project)
Time: 08h30
Venue: Oudsthoorn, George (Western Cape)
Activity: Visit the second and third projects: Die Eiland farm (Farm Equity
Scheme) and Die Kop Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development
(LRAD)
Time: 09h45
Venue: Oudsthoorn, George (Western Cape)
Lunch will be served after the last project at the Riempie Protea Hotel
(Oudsthoorn) in George.
Amongst other guests attending the media tour are: The MEC for Agriculture,
Mr Cobus Dowry, Acting Municipal Manager, Mr MC Botha and PLRO Chief Director,
Mr Terance Fife.
The department will provide accommodation for the night of 30 March 2007 in
Oudsthoorn, meals and transport included.
Please RSVP and specify whether the department should provide you with
transport and accommodation on or before 26 March 2007 by calling:
Solly Phetla
Tel: (012) 312 8112
Cell: 082 577 5668
Ms Lethabo Mashile
Tel: (021) 426 2947
Cell: 082 827 6251
NOTE: The above Department of Land Affairs (DLA) officials will facilitate
transport, directions and provide projects' profile.
Travelling arrangements
The tour will depart from 63 Strand Street, Nedbank Building, Cape Town on
morning of the 31 March 2007 at 9am and arrive in George, Oudtshoorn at 15h00
in the afternoon. Overnight accommodation will be provided at the Riempie
Protea Hotel in Oudtshoorn. Upon arrival guests will be allocated rooms given
time to rest and refresh for the media briefing which will take place at the
hotel at 18h00 followed by supper.
The media tour will commence on the morning of the 31 March 2007 at 08h30
where identified projects will be visited in and around Oudtshoorn before
heading back to the Riempie Hotel for lunch and finally heading to Cape Town in
the late afternoon.
The DLA will provide accommodation and transport. Secure overnight parking
will also be provided.
Eden land reform media tour 2007
The Honourable Deputy Minister of the Department of Agriculture and Land
Affairs invites members of the media to the Eden Land Reform Media Tour from
30-31 March 2007. The purpose of the tour is to showcase successful land reform
projects in the Eden District in George, including both land redistribution
(agricultural) and tenure security/settlement projects.
The media tour will commence on the morning of the 31 March 2007 at 08h30
where an Esta project Welgelek will be visited. Welgelek is a typical Esta
project where the occupier Mr Coerecius lived and worked on the farm owned by
Mr Lipchitz for 21 years making him a long term occupier with tenure rights
according to Esta. Mr Lipchitz later sold a portion of the farm where Mr
Coerecius and his family were living. When the new owner took occupation of
that portion called Safari in Oudtshoorn he threatened to evict them. Through
negotiations between the Department of Land Affairs and the new owner an
amicable solution was reached. The owner arranged alternative accommodation off
the farm for Mr Coerecius and his family.
The second visit will be at a Farm Worker Equity Scheme: Die Eiland farm is
situated in the Little Karoo. The Keller Family entered into a farm worker
equity scheme with 24 of their workers who received Land Redistribution for
Agricultural Development (LRAD) grants in 2006. The farming operations focus on
lucerne, ostrich, seed and cattle farming.
The farm consists of 63 hectares irrigation land and 20 hectares of
marshlands suitable for cattle grazing. The 24 farm workers will own the land
100% and have a 30% share in the operating company. The Keller's want to
decrease their shareholding over a period of five years so that the farm can be
commercially farmed by the workers trust.
The tour will end up at an LRAD Project: Die Kop /Le Roux LRAD project was
approved in 2004 and enabled 42 individuals from Bridgeton, Oudtshoorn, to
acquire a 47-hectare farm Die Eiland.
The purpose of the project was to transfer land in order to improve the food
security and general livelihoods of the beneficiaries. The project has
succeeded and the group prepares this year for their second harvests from their
own land.
In addition to funding from DLA for land acquisition and inputs the group
also received Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme funding from the
provincial Department of Agriculture.
Enquiries:
Ms Lethabo Mashile
Tel: (021) 426 2947
Cell: 082 827 6251
Issued by: Department of Land Affairs
20 March 2007
