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Web: www.dalrrd.gov.za
BUDGET VOTE SPEECH
MR M NYHONTSO (MP)
MINISTER OF LAND REFORM AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
LAND REFORM AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT 2024-25
Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Departement van Landbou, Grondhervorming en Landelike Ontwikkeling Muhasho wa zwa Vhulimi,
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Mbuedzedzo ya Mavu na Mveledziso ya Mahayani, uMnyango Wezolimo, Izinguquko Kwezomhlaba Nokuthuthukiswa Kwezindawo Zasemakhaya Ndzawulo ya
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Vurimi, Antswiso wa Misava na Nhluvukiso wa Matikoxikaya Litiko Letekulima, Tingucuko Kutemhlaba Nekutfutfukiswa Kwetindzawo Tasemaphandleni l UmNyango
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wezokuLima, ukuBuyiselwa kweNarha nokuThuthukiswa kweeNdawo zemaKhaya Kgoro ya Temo, Peakanyoleswa ya Naga le Tlhabollo ya Dinaga- magae l Lefapha la
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Temothuo, Kabobotjha ya Naha le Tlhabollo ya Dibaka tsa Mahae Lefapha la Temothuo, Pusetsodinaga le Tlhabololo ya Metsemagae ISebe lezoLimo, uBuyekezo
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lwemiHlaba noPhuhliso lamaPhandle
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Introduction
In moments like this, we need to briefly pause and reflect on the efforts of our
government in implementing land reform programs in the last six administrations.
These efforts were aimed at reversing the legacy of 3.7 centuries of colonial and
apartheid policies of land dispossession, and denial of the majority indigenous
citizens of this country access to land and security of tenure. Besides these efforts,
the country still remains an unequal society and access to land with secure tenure
rights are limited to some privileged people. The current skewed land ownership
patterns, inequitable access to land and tenure insecurity flies against spirit and
letter of Section 25 (5,6,7) of the Constitution that enjoins the state to ensure
equitable access to land, security of tenure and restitution or equitable redress. Land
is one the key economic factors of production, and in order to unlock the economic
potential of our country, and to eradicate the evils of triple challenge of poverty,
unemployment and inequality, land reform has to be prioritised and be accelerated.
The three legs of land reform, namely, land redistribution, land redistribution and
land tenure still remain relevant for advancing redress in the land reform realm. Our
failure to deal with these areas an unforgivable error to the future of this country.
This budget vote also embraces the significant work that we intent to execute in land
administration, a vital cog to ensure effective land reform. Land administration will
cover national geomatics, spatial planning and land use and registry of deeds.
Land Redistribution and Tenure Reform
We had committed in the 2023/24 financial year to acquire and allocate land through
land redistribution and land tenure programs. The department successfully acquired
and allocated 67 376 hectares of land to various beneficiaries during this period,
surpassing the target of 42 456 hectares that was set.
During this financial year – 2024/2025, the department has budgeted a total figure of
R 466 million to acquire and allocate 46 767 hectares of land for redistribution
through the proactive acquisition of strategic located land and also for security tenure
purposes.
Community Property Associations as land holding entities for some communities and
beneficiaries have over the years been plagued by multiplicity of challenges,
including but not limited to – conflicts and infighting, failure to comply to founding
legislation, inadequate governance, management and administrative knowledge and
inadequate financial support for business initiatives. In the past financial year, we
trained 842 CPA executive with the aim of is financial year we aim to strengthen the
governance and management capacities of CPAs to ensure compliance with the
CPA Act. During this financial year, a further 755 CPA executives and members will
receive training. In line with the Restitution of Land Rights Act, 1994 we will continue
to support CPAs with post settlement support to address sustainability of their
operations.
In order to address the plight of rural communities through the Transformation of
Certain Rural Areas Act (TRANCRAA), the department has transferred 473 938
hectares of land in title to in the main, coloured communities who were deprived
landownership by the past oppressive regimes, and this will work will even be
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accelerated in the current year. The work begun in the sixth administration by the
Inter-Ministerial Committee on Land Reform and Agriculture (IMC) led by the Deputy
President, to convert the leasehold leases of the qualifying lessees occupying state
land into freehold titles will continue in the seventh administration. This work has
commenced, and we project to realise significant progress on state land transfers in
the current financial year. The department will continue consultations with the
lessees to ensure that this work continues unhindered. This decision to transfer state
is very significant as it will directly have a positive impact in the redefining of
landownership patterns in the country and will further improve available funding
options for the farmers.
The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa in Section 25 (5) posits that the state
must take reasonable legislative and other measures, within its available resources,
to foster conditions which enable citizens to gain access to land on an equitable
basis. While the state has been using its available resources to address land
redistribution, this was not supported by a legislative measure. To this effect, there is
focussed attention on crafting and consulting on the Land Redistribution Bill during
this period. In responding to the outcomes of the Communal Land Tenure and
Administration Summit, a Communal Tenure Bill will be processed to Cabinet for
approval in order begin with the public consultations in the current financial year.
These two Bills will also simultaneously have supporting policies consulted. On
labour tenants matters, the department is working with the Special Master on Labour
Tenants court who is appointed by the court to monitor, supervise, and oversee the
work to the department towards the resolution of the outstanding labour tenants
claims. Over the past financial year, I have noted that this work has been executed
at a slow pace and I will engage the Office of the Special Master and the Land Court
with the aim of expediting the labour tenants claims.
The department through Legal Aid South Africa will also continue to provide
resources to ensure that land reform beneficiaries as protected by the Extension of
Security of Tenure Act (ESTA), Labour Tenants, CPA and other beneficiaries have
access to legal services. The eviction of farmworkers has become an urgent issue as
we cannot afford to as a country – continue to have a narrative that describes
farmworkers as forgotten citizens. In this contentious space, the department directly
provide mediation and other related support to land reform beneficiaries in order to
ameliorate the plight of the beneficiaries.
Land Restitution
Since 1998, the Restitution Programme has settled a total 83 205 land claims
including land restoration and financial compensation. These are made up of 2.3
million individual beneficiaries who are members of 465 005 households. Of those,
179 478 are female-headed households and 1 270 are households headed by
persons living with a disability. In the past five years, the Commission has achieved
all its Annual Performance Plan (APP) targets, settling 1 738 against the target of
1597 claims and finalised 2 583 claims against a target of 2026 claims.
For land restoration, 3 million hectares of land was restored to beneficiaries at a cost
of R26.4 billion. An additional R26 billion was used for financial compensation
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claims, i.e., claims involving financial compensation. R5.3 billion for development
grants was allocated to beneficiaries of land restitution, utilising section 42C of the
Restitution Act.
The total of outstanding old order land claims is currently 5759 as of 30th April 2024.
For the 2024/25 financial year, the Commission will settle 319 claims and finalise
339 claims, these within a budget the allocated budget of R3.5 billion.
National Geomatic Management Services
Land Surveying and Mapping are crucial services which underpin orderly
development and management of natural resources, providing the foundation for
sustainable decision-making in terms of spatial planning, infrastructure development,
and other location-based operations. In this financial year, the department will
continue to provide and improve on availability of the national control survey system,
which provides the spatial reference framework that underpins all geospatial
information in South Africa.
In our quest to provide high-resolution aerial imagery of our country, which dates as
far back as 1926, we will this financial year, focus on the provinces of Mpumalanga,
Limpopo and Gauteng. The Department will continue with the update of maps of the
national map series, which are the most extensive nation-wide, detailed record of
features on the ground.
The department is at the forefront of transforming and building capacity of the
geomatics as well as the planning professions by continuing with the special bursary
programme for studies in geomatics and planning. This capacity is crucial for
implementation of spatial transformation strategies. In this regard, the Department
remains the largest provider of Work Integrated Learning to students pursuing
national diploma qualifications.
South Africa remains committed to achieving the objectives of the African Union
Border Programme in respect of international boundaries. As such, the department is
currently working on the reaffirmation of the international boundaries with Botswana
and Zimbabwe. This will lead to improved security and reduced tension along border
areas.
Spatial Planning and Land Use Management
Spatial Transformation is an integral part of spatial planning and sustainable
development in our country which is underpinned by spatial Equity and redress. I am
pleased to provide an overview of the specific projects and initiatives we have
planned for the 2024/25 financial year.
The department, working closely with the Department of Planning, Monitoring and
Evaluation (DPME), is implementing the National Spatial Development Framework
(NSDF) which was approved in the 6th Administration. The department is also
vigorously supporting a comprehensive and integrated approach to spatial planning
and development at a regional level through the development of various Regional
Spatial Development Frameworks, including Eastern Seaboard, Greater Cape Town
Regional Plan, and the Musina Makhado Regional Spatial Development
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Frameworks.
The department continues to administer the Spatial Planning and Land Use
Management Act (SPLUMA) to ensure a cohesive and effective approach to spatial
development in South Africa. The SPLUMA is one of the key pieces of legislation at
the centre of driving transformation at all levels and the department will finalise the
consultation on amendments to the act to ensure that the SPLUMA remains a key
instrument supported by a comprehensive set of regulations which are being
finalised as we speak. We will also be finalising the work towards the amendment of
the Planning Profession Act to enable the planning profession to be at the centre of
driving change through effective planning.
Chairperson, we are collaborating with the Department of Traditional Affairs and the
National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders (NHTKL) to support ten
Traditional Areas with detailed Land Planning, using the latest technology, This
project remains being a beacon of hope in bridging the divide between our formally
established areas and those areas that require most of our attention. This process
has also brought us closer to addressing the concerns raised by the institution with
SPLUMA. Examples of the areas benefitting from this initiative include Bolata in the
Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality in the Free State, Amandebele Ndzundza
Sokhulumi in Kungwini Local Municipality in Gauteng, Molefe in Nquthu Local
Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, and Rambuda in the Thulamela Local Municipality in
Limpopo.
We will also continue to drive the work of the department through the use of drone
technology which has improve both quality, accuracy and efficiency in the field of
spatial planning. Our commitment as a department remains steadfast to improving
the quality of life for our people through spatial planning, land use management, and
geospatial technologies that drives Spatial transformation and promotes Spatial
justice.
I thank you.
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