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Speech by MEC at the Information Day on land redistribution
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Agriculture & Land Affairs

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 EASTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
 SPEECH BY MEC MAMASE AT
INFORMATION DAY ON LAND REDISTRIBUTION
 HELD AT WHITENEY FARM, VICTORIA EAST
 ON, 27 OCTOBER 2000



THE PROVINCIAL PERSPECTIVE ON LAND REDISTRIBUTION AND STATE LAND DISPOSAL IN THE EASTERN CAPE

Master of Ceremonies,
 Honourable guests,
 Government officials,
 Members of the House of Traditional Leaders,
 Farmers,
Ladies and Gentlemen:

Today marks yet another milestone in the Province of the Eastern Cape where Government discusses its roll-out strategy in the 
implementation of the Integrated Programme of Land Redistribution and Agricultural Development with communities, Chiefs, District Councils 
and Farmers.

The Province has degenerated from being the second poorest to become the poorest in the Country. Today, it is our sincerely held view that 
land reformbe used as a tool to open Agricultural opportunities to the landless and destitute members of our communities.

The issue of land reform and land redistribution in the Province remains crucial to the future stability and prosperity of the Agricultural 
sector.

History has left a legacy which needs to be dealt with in such a manner that justice is seen to be done and that the productive potential 
of scarce land resources is preserved.

Master of Ceremonies, allow me to focus mainly on Land reform, Land redistribution and State land disposal framework in the Province, in 
relation to the Integrated Programme.

Land reform in our Province will be addressed through Land Acquisition, Land Restitution and Land Redistribution.

The Province has 260 000 ha of State land which is readily available for disposal and distribution to individuals, groups and communities.

The Department of agriculture and Land Affairs has developed a State Disposal Framework to dispose of the following categories of state 
land

* Power of Attorney land  15 000 ha
* Deed of sale land
* State farms:-

* Peddie  50 000ha
* Gwatyu  38 000ha
* Beestekraal  5 000ha
* Umnga Flats  15 000ha
* Guba farms  17 500ha
* Alice/Kat Citrus farms- 1 000ha
* Port St Johns  1 700ha
* Mankazana3775 ha  160 beneficiaries
* Masakhane4400ha -- 180 beneficiaries

These categories will be disposed of through the Integrated Programme of Land Redistribution and Agricultural Development using the 
Provincial State Land Disposal Framework.

Master of Ceremonies, let me give you an outline of our State Land Disposal Framework:

1.WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OR OBJECTIVE OF LAND DISPOSAL OR REDISTRIBUTION IN THE PROVINCE?

The Province intends to dispose and redistributeland for the following purposes:

* Farming
* Residential
* Industrial/ Commercial
* Afforestation
* Nature Conservation
* Recreation

The major focus of the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs is to promote sustainable utilization of natural resources and 
shift from subsistence farming to semi and ultimately to commercial farming. This land redistribution programme is a vehicle to achieve 
this objective

2.TOOLS /REQUIREMENTS NEEDED FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAMME

* Land disposal Act
* Land Disposal Policy
* Programme Finance (Budget)
* Institutional Arrangements

The following institutional arrangements have or are in the process of being finalised:

(a)Provincial State Land Disposal Committee

This Committee comprises of the Departments of Public Works, Agriculture and Land Affairs, Provincial office of the Department of Land 
Affairs and Housing and Local Government. This Committee is in existence and functioning.

(b)Provincial State Land Forum

Role players:-

* Provincial Department of Land Affairs
* Provincial Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs
* Department of Public Works
* Representatives from District Councils
* Organised Agriculture
* EDAFU and EPAU
* Local Government and Housing
* Other National and Provincial Departments will be co-opted

Functions:

* Decide on broad land use of such land
* Assist in the identification of beneficiaries and dissemination of information to beneficiaries

(c)Provincial Agricultural State Land Disposal

Committee

Role Players:

* Provincial Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs
* Provincial Department of Land Affairs

Functions:

Develop guidelines, systems and procedures in identification and selection of suitable candidates

* Manage the implementation of land redistribution and State land disposal programme
* Advertisement of applicants
* Sharing of information with stakeholders / beneficiaries which spells out

* Selection criteria
* State land Disposal Procedure
* Land categories, location and prices

* Conduct farm inspections, valuation and formulation or recommendations to the MEC for the disposal of particular properties
* Makes representation for the issuing of item 28 (1) certificates

(d)Provincial Selection Committee

Role players:

* Provincial Department of Agriculture And Land Affairs
* Provincial Department of Land Affairs

Functions:

* Selection of applicants for advertised farms
* Selection of beneficiaries for leasing of farms
* Making recommendations to the Provincial Agricultural State Land Committee and Provincial Grant approval Committee

(e)Provincial Grant Approval Committee

Role players:

* Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs
* Department of Land Affairs

Functions:

* Assessment of grant applications
* Approval of land redistribution and land disposal grants
* Grant approval for the release of funds



3.CATEGORIES OF STATE LAND

3.1 Power of Attorney land

3.2 Ciskei Deed of sale farms

3.3 State Agricultural Farms

3.4 Credit board farms

3.5 Parastatal land

3.6 Private Land

3.7Communal land



4.DISPOSAL FRAMEWORK

4.1 Statement of objectives

4.2 Assessment of Environmental factors / Agricultural potential

4.3 Decide on Land Use options

4.4 Disposal configurations

4.5 Farm plan



5.METHOD OF DISPOSAL

5.1 Advertise available State land for 3-4 weeks

5.2 Selection through an approved selection criteria

5.3 Disposal criteria e.g. lease disposal or direct sale

5.4 Approval

5.5 Deed of sale with pre-amptive clause

5.6 Transfer of land

5.7 Disposal procedure

5.7.1 Land identification and district prioritisation

The Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs, together with the Department of Land Affairs will determine the present status of the farms 
under the Power of Attorney, whether they are available for what use e.g. Commercial Farmer Settlement,Farm Dweller Settlement and/or 
community Agricultural development programme. This must reflect Land Development Objectives (LDOs) and Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) 
of the various parts of the Province

All the land that is found suitable for commercial farmer settlement programme, will be planned. Valued and advertised for disposal.

5.7.2 Project Planning, Subdivision and Development

The Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs will take charge of Land Use Planning of the farming units:

* Farm demarcation
* Land valuation

In conclusion, Master of Ceremonies, the Government is committed to Land Redistribution through the Integrated Programme whose sole key 
objectives are:

1. To provide grants to previously disadvantaged South African citizens to access land specifically for Agriculture.

2. To improve nutrition and disposable incomes of the rural poor who wish to farm on any scale.

3. Overcome legacy of the past racial and gender discrimination.

4. Stimulate growth from Agriculture

5. Expand opportunities for promising young people who prefer to remain in rural areas.

6. Empower beneficiaries to improve their economic and social wellbeing.

7. Enable those presently accessing Agricultural land in communal areas to make better productive use of their land.

8. Promote environmental sustainability of land and other natural resources.

The Integrated Programme will enable us to address the Beijing Platform For Action (1995) and Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of 
Discrimination Against Women(1996)

Women will be able to apply as adult individuals for grants, rather than as members of households.

The Provincial Department of Agriculture and Department of Land Affairs are jointly responsible for the implementation of the Integrated 
Programme of Land Redistribution in the Province.

THANK YOU

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