Question NW3598 to the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
27 October 2022 - NW3598
Masipa, Mr NP to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
What are the challenges faced by the Bjatladi Community Property Association with specific reference to their Zebediela Citrus Estate; (2) whether any investigations were conducted to establish the causes of the problems and the solution put on the table for the community; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. The challenges are disputes between the concerned group and the Bjatladi Communal Property Association (CPA) committee, more specifically on governance issues.
2. Yes. The cause of the challenges is the governance issue, coupled with allegations of corruption and maladministration against the current CPA committee. On 16 September 2022, the Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development together with Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) held a meeting with both the concerned group and the current Bjatladi CPA committee with the intention to resolve their disputes, however, the two groups are not ready to work together.
Professional mediation was recommended, to which they needed to consent within five working days. To date, the two groups have not consented to participate in the proposed mediation.