June 2013 marks the centenary of the 1913 Native Land Act, a piece of legislation which many historians equate with the birth of apartheid. This was the start of the devastating landslide of illicit “laws” that disenfranchised the ‘natives” from their native land – banishing black South Africans to deeply rural areas representing less than 20% of the nation’s living space.
The effects were so devastating that today, some 18 years after the birth of democracy, over 12 million people in rural areas are still living with poverty.
It was primarily in recognition of this stubborn and unwelcome legacy that government created the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform some 40 months ago (May 2009).
Now, on October 5th and 6th 2012, the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) will host around 1000 delegates to the “Rural Transformation 2012” Conference, at the St. George’s Conference Centre, Pretoria.
This major consultative conference is seen as a final step towards the adoption of a meaningful plan of action on how to bring the rural poor into the mainstream of our country’s economic life.We are particularly anxious that you should attend.
You are invited to attend media briefing at 11h40 on the Friday. You are welcome to attend the plenary session (although the breakaway commissions are closed, in order to encourage spontaneity, candour, and criticism). (Plenary starts at 9h00)
At the media briefing you are encouraged to be involved, to participate, to give your views on the way forward. If you know a better way to progress, share it. Your hosts and other members of the action coalition want to know about it.
The department is taking the view that part of the nation’s response to the challenges of rural development is that there should be no secrets, everyone’s hand is on the table for all to see. And we are also assuming that all involved are after the same outcome: a partnership aiming for real progress in the war on poverty in rural communities across the nation.
So come along, have your say, air your grievances, expose your ideas, let’s work together to finalise a workable plan to help uplift the poor people; and in so doing, uplift ourselves and our country.
For RSVP and further information regarding the briefing kindly contact the following officials:
Sehloho Mphati
Tel: 012 312 8112
Cell: 083 977 4040
Mr Tshepo Diale
Tel: 012 312 8532
Cell: 071 850 1751
Enquiries:
Sehloho Mphati
Tel: 012 312 8112
Cell: 083 977 4040
