At National Emergent Red Meat Producers Organisation’s (NERPO) 4th Annual Rural Development and Land Reform, the Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform, Mr Gugile Nkwinti, is expected to address farmers and various stakeholders on government’s decision to scrap the ‘willing buyer-willing seller’ principle on Land Reform.
In his State of the Nation Address in Parliament early this month, President Jacob Zuma announced that, “government will now pursue the ‘just and equitable’ principle for compensation, as set out in the Constitution instead of the “willing buyer, willing seller” principle, which forces the state to pay more for land than the actual value.”
This NERPO annual event is a platform where farmers reflect on right-from the farm experiences of the rural development land reform programme while sharing information with government about proposed remedial interventions to address the ills of the agricultural economy.
Minister Nkwinti is also expected to shed light on among other issues, progress made by government on the finalisation and implementation of the following key policy proposals and programmes:
- the Green Paper on Land Reform
- the Land Audit
- issuing of title-deeds for smallholder farmers so as to ensure full ownership of agricultural land by black farmers
- the re-opening of land claims.
The Department’s National Director-General, Mr Mdu Shabane will further provide details on the state of the Land Recapitalisation and Development programme (Recap). In August last year, the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform held a Recap Evaluation Workshop during which a diagnostic view on the successes and hindrances of the programme was conducted.
MEC for Agrarian Reform & Rural Development Ms Zoleka Capa as well the Executive Mayor of the Chris Hani District Municipality Mr. Mxolisi Koyo will be among the key speakers who will address the farmers.
Details of the event to which members of the media are equally invited are as follows:
Date: 28 February - 1 March 2013 (28 Feb, National Agricultural Expo)
Time: 08h00
Venue: Carnarvon Estate, Sterkstroom (50 kms away from Queenstown)
Members of the media are requested to RSVP on or before the 27th of February 2013 preferable by e-mail or sms to:
Siyabulela Makunga
Cell: 072 768 0239
E-mail: siyabulelam1@gmail.com or communications@nerpo.org.za
