Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti says since the beginning of the Land Restitution Programme, a total of 77 334 claims have been settled, while a further 59 785 were finalised.
Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti says since the beginning of the Land Restitution Programme, a total of 77 334 claims have been settled, while a further 59 785 were finalised.
“Since the inception of the Restitution Programme in 1995, 79 696 claims were lodged, 77 334 have been settled, of which 59 758 were finalised. Land acquired by the state amounts to 4 000 land parcels, or 1.443 million hectares," Nkwinti said.
Speaking during the presentation of his department’s 2013 budget vote to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), he said 137 000 beneficiaries were female-headed households, and 672 were persons with disability.
The minister said a total of R16 billion had been spent on the programme thus far, in settling 77 148 claims, while R10bn had been spent in land acquisition, and R6bn for 71 292 financial compensation claims. This would have acquired 1.9 million hectares, if government had opted to buy land.
“This is a reflection of enduring poverty, unemployment, and income poverty in the historically disadvantaged communities. Between 1994 and the end of March this year, 4 860 farms – more than four million hectares – have been transferred to black people and communities, through the Redistribution Programme.
“Almost a quarter of a million people have benefited through land reform. Of this, over 50 000 women, 32 000 youths, and 674 persons with disabilities benefited,” he said.
In terms of the development aspect of land reform, the minister said 1 269 farms had been recapitalised between the third quarter of 2009 and March 2013.
Nkwinti said more than 7 400 jobs had been created. The total investment by the State, since the inception of the Recapitalisation Programme was R2.14bn.
“The investment supported emerging farmers with infrastructure, and strategic technical support. Historically distressed farms became sustainable and productive.
“With the support of commercial and strategic partners, emerging farmers are achieving access to good markets, and integrating their produce in the value chain. In December 2012, the net income from these recapped farms was R126m,” he said.
According to official policy, land reform entails redistribution, restitution, development and tenure reform.
The strategic objective of land reform is that all land-reform farms should be 100 percent productive by the year 2015/16; and to rekindle the class of black commercial farmers which was destroyed by the Natives Land Act of 1913.
– SAnews.gov.za
