Question NW826 to the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
01 June 2020 - NW826
Montwedi, Mr Mk to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
Whether any communal property associations (CPAs) were successful in their land claims and are now leasing land to white farmers; if so, what number of farms are leased by CPAs to white farmers; (2) whether she has found that the CPA is the best model for communal land ownership; if not, does her department intend to review the Communal Property Associations Act, Act 28 of 1996; if so, what is the reason for this?
Reply:
1. Yes. The Department embarked on a process to identify CPAs with properties that are leased to third parties. According to the records of the Directorate of Communal Property Institutions in the Department, there are 505 properties currently leased from CPAs. A service provider is in the process of being appointed to verify this information, amongst other things.
2. Yes. Communal Property Associations are established in terms of an Act of Parliament, to acquire, hold and manage the property on behalf of the members of beneficiary communities. The Department has identified challenges in the functioning of these entities, and therefore, a strategy has been developed to tighten governance systems and other areas that need scrutiny to ensure that CPAs as land and property holding entities are compliant with the regulatory requirements, efficient and functional. Currently, there is no researched evidence which confirms that CPAs are not the best model for communal land ownership.
The Department constantly reviews its legislation to address challenges and enhance its efficacy. The CPA Amendment Bill that was passed by Parliament in December 2018 (currently awaiting assent by the President) provides for the establishment of the Office of the Registrar of Communal Property Associations with the relevant human resource capacity at both national and provincial levels to enforce governance and compliance with the Act.