Question NW511 to the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development

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19 December 2019 - NW511

Profile picture: Masipa, Mr NP

Masipa, Mr NP to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development

Whether her department will offer title deeds to the eight black citrus farmers farming under the Alice Kat Citrus Primary Cooperative in the Eastern Cape; if not, why not; if so, by what date will the (a) beneficiaries receive communication from her department in this regard and (b) transfers of the title deeds be finalised?

Reply:

Yes, provided that the sale terms are concluded. Approval was granted during the year 2006 for the sale of various Kat River Citrus farms to the farmers at specific market values. The sales would have been funded through the combination of Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development Grant and own finance. The farmers never secured financing and therefore the transactions were not taken any further.

The Department cannot offer title deeds without the terms of the transaction being honoured by any of the purchasers.

a) The Department is already in communication with the farmers, with a view to finalise the transactions and also deal with issues of farm dwellers who are occupying some of the farms.

b) The transfers will commence upon the farmers satisfying the sale conditions.

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