The Minister of Rural development and Land Reform Mr Gugile Nkwinti cordially invites members of the media to a media briefing session to be held on Saturday 11 December 2010 at the Gallagher Convention Centre, in Midrand. The briefing session will start from 15h00.
The media briefing follows the outcomes of a three day workshop that will be held by the Department on the 9 to 11 December 2010. Among issues that will be discussed, the briefing session will focus on the Strategic land acquisitions to meet agrarian transformation objectives (area-based planning, costs of land acquisition versus benefit to lessees), beneficiary selection (including issue of production discipline) and categorisation of land. Mentorship, skills transfer and empowerment, Asset management (challenges and improvements).
The details of the media briefing under the following details:
Date: 11 December 2010
Venue: Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand
Time: 15h00
Accreditation: Journalists who will be attending the media briefing will be required to provide their Press cards for their media organisation or any form of Identity.
For RSVP and further information regarding the briefing kindly contact the following officials:
Mr Sehloho Mphati: Communication Services
Tel: 012 312 8112
Cell: 083 977 4040
Mr Tshepo Diale: Communication Services
Tel: 012 312 8532
Cell: 071 850 1751
Fact Sheet: Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy (PLAS)
PLAS background context synopsis
Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy is a government’s initiative aimed at accelerating land redistribution and in the process ensuring that Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) acquire land in the nodal areas and in the identified agricultural corridors and other high agricultural potential to meet the objectives of ASGISA.
With the pro-active strategy the department leases farms to emergent black farmers for a minimum of three years after the trial-lease period has expired the land can be disposed off to the same beneficiaries if they have been satisfactorily assessed by the Department. Out of the entire purchase price, the beneficiaries pay 6% as rental fee for three years as part of the loan agreement with DRDLR.
The proactive approach allows the department to acquire land in terms of Act 126 [Section 10(a)] based on the selling price, expropriation or auction price without attaching beneficiaries to such land.
The PLAS approach is also a strategy for the improvement of the identification and selection of beneficiaries and the planning of land on which people would be settled and ensure the optimal use of land acquired as well as guarding against escalating land prices.
The strategy moves from a premise that there is a need or demand for land, it might either be quantified (through IDPs) or not, but that it is not beneficiary demand driven, but rather state driven.
Strategic Objectives of PLAS
The implementation of PLAS will contribute to :
- a higher path of growth, employment and equity by 2014
- towards ASGI-SA
- Accelerate land delivery
Main Objectives
- Accelerate the land redistribution process
- Ensure that the DRDLR can acquire land in the nodal areas and in the identified agricultural corridors and other areas of high agricultural potential to meet the objectives of ASGISA
- Improve the identification and selection of beneficiaries and the planning of land on which people would be settled
- Ensure maximum productive use of land acquired and
- Hedge against escalating land prices
Enquiries:
Mr Eddie Mohoebi
Tel: 012 312 9648
Cell: 082 550 1445
