Question NW2377 to the Minister of Agriculture, LandReform and Rural Development
01 December 2020 - NW2377
Buthelezi, Mr EM to ask the Minister of Agriculture, LandReform and Rural Development
Whether, with reference to the tabling of the draft Expropriation Bill on 9 October 2020, the Government has conducted an audit of (a) land under the control of the State which can be redistributed without compensation and (b) unused land by owners living abroad; if not, what is the position in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case; (2) what (a) measures will be put in place to ensure that the beneficiaries of expropriated land have the requisite knowledge and skills to make that land profitable taking into account that much of the land that was given to black South Africans is now lying unproductive and most projects have failed because of lack of skills and (b) will be done to ensure the adoption of the Expropriation Bill does not result in lost investor confidence, particularly from the Republic’s main foreign investors?
Reply:
1. No. Government has not yet identified the land which can be redistributed without compensation andunused land by owners living abroad,and therefore such land audit has not been conducted.
(a),(b) Falls away.
2.
a) In line with the Beneficiary Selection Policy, all beneficiaries allocated the land are subjected to a compulsory training in line with their skills and knowledge needs.
b) Government through the relevant affected Departments, will provide a comprehensive communication strategy to address the concerns of the investors on the expropriation of land.