AgriSA supports the new development path the Ministry of Rural Development and Land Reform is taking, as the survival of commercial agriculture in South Africa is integrally depended on the success of the rural development and land reform programme, AgriSA declared this after Minister Gugile Nkwinti’s brief at Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) this morning in Sandton, on the ministry’s plans to tackle social and economic development in the countryside.
BUSA, as part of its programme to interact with ministries on their plans and impact on business, had invited Minister Gugile to brief them on, amongst others, the integrated rural development strategy, the Green Paper, the Land Tenure Security Bill as well as access to funding for land reform and farm development.
There are three strategic imperatives that must be addressed for South Africa to have a flourishing, growing agricultural sector and for us to sustain political stability in the country, Minister Nkwinti emphasised.
Firstly, it is to de-racialise the rural economy; secondly, the democratic and equitable allocation and use of land; and thirdly, instilling production discipline to ensure food security and growth of the agricultural sector. The Green Paper, which the department will be introducing to Cabinet soon, aims to address these imperatives. The Green Paper introduces a new approach in dealing with land reform and proposes a new land tenure system.
The meeting acknowledged that foreign investment concerns are largely due to lack of knowledge and uncertainties, and once information is provided investment inflow in the agricultural sector will continue. Foreign investors also have a potential to assist the country with the much required skills and for South Africa to maintain the market rather than lose it.
The Green Paper further proposes a Land Management Commission with the powers to subpoena and amongst others has regulatory, auditing and advisory functions. It will also be tasked with addressing the continuing challenges around stateland registry, so that the state can know exactly which land it owns, which is not the case currently.
A Land Tenure Security Bill is also proposed, to replace both the Extension of Security and Tenure Act (ESTA) and Land Reform Labour Tenants Act (LTA). Amongst others, the bill proposes the establishment of agri-villages and boards, constituted of farmers, farm workers and farm dwellers residing in that village, to look after the interests of both land owners, farm workers, as well as farm dwellers, and that no arbitrary evictions to take place.
Representatives from AgriSA and BUSA constituencies expressed their support for the objectives underpinning the ministry’s plans to address rural poverty and the rejuvenation of rural economies. Also welcomed was the emphasise the minister placed on the importance of consultation and partnerships to enable stakeholders participation and ownership of interventions proposed for land reform and rural development.
The minister emphasised also that as the state transfers land from white hands to black hands, it is imperative that agricultural production is not compromised as this may have negative impact on the economy which may lead to various social ills.
Delegates however raised several concerns, which included whether the department will have sufficient resources to implement the options it proposes, that it must be acknowledged that South Africa’s rural development programme will not be easy, and therefore there is a need to approach this step by step and that there should be joint and proper planning and finally, that in most cases problems are not with legislation per se, but rather with implementation. Concerns around availability of data on land reform were also seen as a major obstacle to partnerships and effective implementation.
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