The fourth democratic elections ushered in a new electoral mandate, which defines the strategic objectives and targets of government for the period 2009 to 2014. This Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF, 2009 to 2014) outlines as Strategic Priority No. 3 a comprehensive rural development strategy linked to land and agrarian reform and food security. Strategic priority No 3 states that there should be an aggressive implementation of land reform policies to ensure land reform is more coherently linked to the creation of livelihoods for the poor and that strategically located land is released for the most appropriate use without delay.
The Ministry and the Department of Rural Development therefore embarked on the process of a policy review of the 1997 White Paper on South African Land Policy as well as other programmes and products of the erstwhile Department of Land Affairs, to ensure that the MTSF priorities duly inform the land reform programme. We expect that the proposals in the Green Paper will assist in ensuring a faster and qualitative land reform programme.
Though Land Reform and Rural Development are linked at policy, institutional and programme levels, separate Green Papers account for the proposed policy positions in respect of each of these two areas. The Draft Green Paper on Land Reform follows on an earlier effort to develop a single Green Paper for both Land Reform and Rural Development.
On the 23rd of August 2011 the Cabinet approved the Draft Green Paper on Land Reform for publication for public comments. In terms of process, we will embark on consultations on the Green Paper across the county to elicit views on the proposals contained in the Green Paper.
The Green Paper will be tabled in Parliament today, and published in the Government Gazette in due course. The Green Paper will also be available on the website of the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform.
This Green Paper on Land Reform attempts to generate ideas and responses to the policy questions facing land reform such as: why should the State continue to invest in transforming land relations: how important is land reform in South Africa today: is South Africa still primarily an agrarian society; with the extent of the historic dispossession and transformation of the majority of the dispossessed into wage-workers; is there an agreement about - the demand for land in South Africa and the purpose and prospective beneficiaries of land reform;, and, can land reform represent a radical and rapid break from the past without significantly disrupting agricultural production and food security?
The change agenda pursued in the Green Paper is that in order to create a new trajectory for land reform a set of proposals are put forward which attempts to break from the past without significantly disrupting agricultural production and food security, and avoid redistributions that do not generate livelihoods, employment and incomes.
The Green Paper focuses on seven key areas, namely:
- a vision for land reform
- principles underlying land reform
- current challenges and weaknesses: Rationale for change
- an improved trajectory for land reform (including institutions to support land reform)
- the strategic thrust for land reform
- land reform experiences elsewhere, and
- challenges and Constraints.
The Green Paper on Land Reform will form a critical part in the debate that will ensure, in addressing the land question; we must, as a nation be open to robust debate, so as to emerge with a way forward for land reform, that will ensure a better life for all.
Enquiries:
Mtobeli Mxotwa
Cell: 083 578 9023
Email: mmxotwa@ruraldevelopment.gov.za
