Land Reform discussions extended

The ongoing consultation process on the South African Green Paper on Land Reform has been extended until the end of this year.

The Green Paper is underpinned by the following three key principles: de-racialisation of the rural economy for shared and sustained growth, democratic and equitable land allocation and use across gender, race and class, and strict production discipline for guaranteed national food security.

The countrywide engagement on the Green Paper which seeks to break from the past without significantly disrupting agricultural production and food security was due to be concluded at the end of November.

The extension, which was gazetted last Friday, provides interested and affected stakeholders with an additional month to submit their comments.

Rural Development Minister Gugile Nkwinti earlier this week met the National Reference Group (NAREG) to review progress made by the different thematic task teams dealing with different aspects of the Green Paper and discuss substantive issues relating to proposals on policy, strategy and legislation.

NAREG is an inclusive structure that represents varied interest groups ranging from beneficiaries, organised agriculture, civil society to academics and experts on land and agrarian issues.

Nkwinti told the meeting that with the extension, he expected more interested stakeholders to come forward and contribute in the shaping of the Green Paper.

He said some people criticised the Green Paper as a thin 12-page document, failing to realise that it was a framework reflecting a past the country must move away from, the vision for land reform in South Africa, the principles to underpin the envisaged land reform and the institutions to sustain that vision.

Stakeholders were therefore expected to interrogate the Green Paper and add flesh to the document so that this can be an inclusive process.

The NAREG delegation at the meeting was made up of two beneficiaries per province, Farm Equity Schemes representatives, National Farmers Union, delegates from the land and agri-business organisations (African Farmers Association, Agri-SA, Transvaal Agricultural Union and Agri-Business Chamber), the National House of Traditional Leaders, Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa and academics.

The meeting discussed substantive issues relating to proposals on policy, strategy and legislation as well as timeliness leading to the finalisation of the Green Paper.

Members of the public as well as interest groups are invited to participate in the consultation processes and contribute towards developing an effective and responsive land tenure system in South Africa.

A copy of the Green Paper is available on the department’s website ( www.ruraldevelopment.gov.za ) and public comments can be e-mailed to landreformgreenpaper@ruraldevelopment.gov.za or faxed to 086 692 8882. – BuaNews