SA govt to fast track land redistribution

Xingwana says more skills expertise are needed in agriculture

Government will accelerate plans to distribute five million hectares of agricultural land among 10 000 new landowners. Social Development Minister, Zola Skweyiya, made the announcement at a media briefing in Parliament.

Skweyiya says in addition, the Department of Agriculture is finalising the formation of an Agri-BEE council.

Agriculture Minister Lulu Xingwana also said in a media briefing in Cape Town that government plans to have 30% of agricultural land in the hands of black farmers by 2014. Currently black farmers own 4.7% of farm land, she said.

"We need financial resources. The willing buyer, willing seller [principle] is not working. The Public Works Minister is tabling the Expropriation Act, we hope that… we can fast track the process," said Xingwana.

Foreign land ownership would "definitely" be regulated, Xingwana said. "At this point in time, we definitely agree that we have to regulate foreign land ownership. We will look at the options and international best practice."

Xingwana hoped that half of the outstanding land claims would be settled by the end of 2008. These were mostly rural claims held up by disagreements between tribal chiefs over where boundaries lie, and white farmers disputing the validity of claims.

Expropriation would be used to settle claims not finalised by the end of 2008, Xingwana said. - Additional reporting by Sapa