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COMMISSION ON RESTITUTION OF LAND RIGHTS. RESTITUTION UPDATE: ANNUAL REPORT TO 31 MARCH 2003 AND PROGRESS TO DATE. PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND LAND AFFAIRS. ELEMENTS OF LAND REFORM PROGRAMME.
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COMMISSION ON RESTITUTION OF LAND RIGHTS Land: Key to Growth and Socio-Economic Development
RESTITUTION UPDATE:ANNUAL REPORT TO 31 MARCH 2003 AND PROGRESS TO DATE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND LAND AFFAIRS Land: Key to Growth and Socio-Economic Development
ELEMENTS OF LAND REFORM PROGRAMME • Land Policy in South Africa is captured in the White Paper, which record the history of dispossession and the skewed land ownership in SA. • Redistribution aims to provide the disadvantaged and the poor with access to land for residential and productive purposes. Its scope includes the urban and rural very poor, labour tenants, farm workers as well as new entrants to agriculture (81:13% the White: Black land ownership ration debate) Land: Key to Growth and Socio-Economic Development
ELEMENTS OF LAND REFORM PROGRAMME • Land Restitution covers cases of forced removals which took place after 1913. They are being dealt with by a Land Claims Court and Commission established under the Restitution of Land Rights Act, 22 0f 1994 (redress). • Land Tenure Reform is being addressed through a review of present land policy, administration and legislation to improve the tenure security of all South Africans and to accommodate diverse forms of land tenure, including types of communal tenure (ownership) Land: Key to Growth and Socio-Economic Development
RESTITUTION STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE • Access to Land and redress for dispossessions • Research and Settlement of Urban and Rural Claims • Post Settlement Support Sustainable projects Land: Key to Growth and Socio-Economic Development
RESTITUTION STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE • Integrated Development Approach to Restitution • ISRDP and URP • Effective Communication (Internal and External) Land: Key to Growth and Socio-Economic Development
Settled Claims (Provincial Stats)Cumulative: 1995 to date Land: Key to Growth and Socio-Economic Development
CUMULATIVE STATISTICS ON SETTLED RESTITUTION CLAIMS1995 – 31 JULY 2003 Land: Key to Growth and Socio-Economic Development
Settled Claims (Provincial Stats)Cumulative: 1995 to date(Finance) Land: Key to Growth and Socio-Economic Development
Settled Claims Cumulative: 1995 to date Land: Key to Growth and Socio-Economic Development
CUMULATIVE STATISTICS ON SETTLED RESTITUTION CLAIMS1995 – 31 JULY 2003(Cont…) • The above statistics have been compiled based on the information reflected in the Database of Settled Restitution Claims. • In order to improve the accuracy of our statistics, the Database of Settled Restitution Claims has been subjected to a process of internal auditing. (Project Basisa) Land: Key to Growth and Socio-Economic Development
JUNE LAND MONTH- 2003 • 90 Years since Native Land Act of 19 June 1913 promulgated. • National Land Hand over celebrations in June to mark Land delivery through restitution todate. • More than 20 000 hectares handed over in June 2003. • Appreciate support from Portfolio Committee members who gave us support. • See Focus on Land Month Land: Key to Growth and Socio-Economic Development
RESTITUTION CHALLENGES • Late Lodgment of claims • People who did not lodge their claims. • Difficult Rural Claims • Most of rural claimants are illiterate. • Construction of family trees. • Ex-homeland areas unregistered and un-surveyed rights. • Not titles/maps. • Identity documents, death certificates, marriage certificates, affidavits. Land: Key to Growth and Socio-Economic Development
RESTITUTION CHALLENGES • Exorbitant Land Prices and unco-operative White Farmers • Market-based land reform. • Negative attitude and hostility. • Protracted Negotiations, Disputes and Mediation • Agreement. • Validity of the claim. • Land use Land: Key to Growth and Socio-Economic Development
RESTITUTION CHALLENGES • Poverty and Financial Compensation • Land appreciates in value. • Land is a factor of production. • Land can be passed on. • Land marks the dignity. • Agricultural Development • Lack of technical skills. • Business skills. • Organizational skills. • Development planning skills • Financing and financial management. Land: Key to Growth and Socio-Economic Development
RESTITUTION CHALLENGES • Housing Development • Budget constraints of Municipalities. • Land for housing development. • Rural housing. • Inadequate capacity • Integrated Development Planning and Rural Livelihoods • Co-operative governance. Land: Key to Growth and Socio-Economic Development
RESTITUTION CHALLENGES • Funding for Restitution • R1.2 billion to finalize claims prioritized for this year. • Role for Donor agencies to support restitution. Land: Key to Growth and Socio-Economic Development
Challenges and Critical Issues for ISRDP-URP Implementation • The municipalities` IDP formulation processes tend not to integrate land reform • Poor or lack of coordination during prioritization process • Limited capacity within RLCC to deal with divergent priorities as demands arise Land: Key to Growth and Socio-Economic Development
Challenges and Critical Issues for ISRDP-URP Implementation(Cont…) • The long process taken to resolve claims perceived as stumbling block to development • Lack of resources (financial, human, physical) for municipalities to complement Restitution awards as well as capacity to implement the agreed projects. Land: Key to Growth and Socio-Economic Development
Challenges and Critical Issues for ISRDP-URP Implementation(Cont…) • Align priorities to include current municipal ISRDP and URP anchor projects. • The institutional frameworks for Post Settlement processes. • Resource Mobilization and Donor Support for sustainable development. • Project Management skills for beneficiaries (Capacity building) Land: Key to Growth and Socio-Economic Development
RESTITUTION OF LAND RIGHTS AMENDMENT BILL (RLRAB)(Expropriation) GAZETTE NO. 25217 OF 25 JULY 2003 Land: Key to Growth and Socio-Economic Development
RESTITUTION OF LAND RIGHT AMENDENT BILL • Purpose • Limitations of the current legislations • The Amendment Land: Key to Growth and Socio-Economic Development
RESTITUTION OF LAND RIGHTS AMENDMENT BILL (RLRAB)(Expropriation) • Purpose of the Bill To empower the Minister of Land Affairs to purchase, acquire in any other manner or expropriate land, a portion of land or a right in land for the purposes of the restoration or award of such land, portion of land or rights in land to a claimant or for any other land reform purpose. Land: Key to Growth and Socio-Economic Development
RESTITUTION OF LAND RIGHTS AMENDMENT BILL (RLRAB)(Expropriation) (b).To deal with the inadequacies of the current legislation • Section 35 (5A) – no need to get agreement of all parties before expropriation. • Section 42D(1)(d) – no need to get a Court Order before expropriation. • Expropriation Act, No.63 of 1975 empowers only the Minister of Public Works to expropriate for a public purpose (roads, bridges, dams, schools, etc.). The Amendment empowers the Minister of Land Affairs to expropriate for Land reform purposes. • Section 24(3) of the Constitution provides for expropriation for Land reform (public interest) purposes. Land: Key to Growth and Socio-Economic Development
RESTITUTION OF LAND RIGHTS AMENDMENT BILL (RLRAB)(Expropriation) ( c ). Just and Equitable Compensation • Those expropriated will be compensated fairly based on market values. • Have recourse (Court) if unhappy with amount of compensation. (Constitutional right) Land: Key to Growth and Socio-Economic Development
RESTITUTION OF LAND RIGHTS AMENDMENT BILL (RLRAB)(Expropriation) (d). Process and Progress to date (RLRAB) • Call for comment from all interested parties made on 9 May 2003. (Gazette Notice 1331 No. 24823) • Comments received and evaluated of 20 June 2003. • Well attended Expropriation Amendment Bill Indaba at Burgerspark Hotel in Pretoria on 26 June 2003 discussed – comments. • Technical Team met with Deputy Minister to consider comments and inputs from Indaba, make final draft, submit to Cabinet. Land: Key to Growth and Socio-Economic Development
RESTITUTION OF LAND RIGHTS AMENDMENT BILL (RLRAB)(Expropriation) • Bill endorsed by Cabinet and State Law Advisers. • Public Hearings by Portfolio Committee on Agriculture and Land Affairs planned for 25 and 26 August 2003. Land: Key to Growth and Socio-Economic Development
COMMISSION ON RESTITUTION OF LAND RIGHTS I THANK YOU Presented by: Mr. T T Gwanya Chief Land Claims Commissioner Private Bag X833 PRETORIA 0001 Tel. (012) 312 9244 Fax: (012) 321 0428 E-mail: ttgwanya@dla.gov.za Website address www.land.pwv.gov.za Land: Key to Growth and Socio-Economic Development