Restoring dignity through land reform
The land reform programme supports the provincial agenda of growing the agricultural sector for both domestic consumption and exports to international markets.
The decline in the sector’s productivity was addressed by engaging stakeholders through forums such as the National Land Summit, held in 2015, and the vulnerable workers forum held in 2016.
In his State of the Province address, Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza said
the sector contributes 3.4% of the Gross Domestic Product, accounting for 630 000 formal jobs.
Government has to date, through the land reform programme, acquired and allocated 461 946 ha for land redistribution and a further 503 769 ha for the settlement of land claims.
Almost R7,5bn has been spent by government on these acquisitions.
“However, it is of great concern that despite such investment, most of these farms are lying idle without any agricultural activity. This is not right and cannot be accepted. It undermines our efforts of addressing the land question. It affects the agenda of growing the agricultural sector to address food security, and of creating much needed jobs for the unemployed,” said Mabuza.
A Provincial Land Summit will be held soon to discuss pertinent policies and issues affecting the land reform programme and comprehensively respond to these issues.
The socio-economic conditions of farm dwellers have also received an urgent intervention.
The Mpumalanga provincial government is working with the Department of Rural Development and
Land Reform, the landowners and the farm dwellers/workers to find negotiated solutions to prevailing problems.
“I am pleased to report that the Commission on the Socio-Economic Conditions of Farm Dwellers completed and presented its report in September last year,” said Mabuza.
The report raised critical issues around security of tenure, the violation of rights and matters related to poor access to key infrastructure and social services such as education, health, housing and basic services.
The premier indicated that an integrated programme of action would be implemented in the coming financial year, to address the recommendations contained in the commission’s report. In this regard a coordinating structure located in the Office of the Premier will mobilise all key stakeholders to work together to deliver programmes that will change the lives of farm dwellers for the better.