Question NW1759 to the Minister of Public Works

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13 July 2018 - NW1759

Profile picture: Ryder, Mr D

Ryder, Mr D to ask the Minister of Public Works

(a) What is the purpose of his department’s vesting committee, (b) what is the organisational structure of the committee, (c) to whom does the committee report, (d) what are the details of the powers that the committee and its office bearers have and (e) what properties have been transferred as a result of this committee’s work (i) in each of the past three financial years and (ii) since 1 April 2018?

Reply:

(a) The purpose of the Vesting Committee:

Prior to the democratic dispensation in South Africa, State land parcels were registered in various historical names, including names of governments of the former bantustans, which today no longer exist. Some of these registered titles comprised of the Union of South Africa, Republic of South Africa, the Provincial Administrations of the Cape of Good Hope, Natal, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Republic of Transkei, Republic of Bophuthatswana, Republic of Venda, Republic of Ciskei (TBVC States), as well as the self-governing territories of Gazankulu, Lebowa, KaNgwane, KwaNdebele, KwaZulu and Qwaqwa.

The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, the Department of Public Works and Provincial Custodians constitute the Provincial State Land Vesting and Disposal Committee (PSLVDC). The PSLVDC was established to recommend vesting of land parcels either to the national or the provincial sphere of Government, depending on the use or intended use of land as at 27 April 1994. The main purpose of vesting is to confirm ownership of the land parcels, assign it to the appropriate custodian and to eliminate historical names in order to safeguard the properties of the State.

(b) What is the organisational structure of the Vesting Committee?

The roles of presiding (Chairpersonship) and Secretariat services interchange amongst the members of the PSLVDC on an annual basis. The verifier and authoriser for the issuing of Item 28 (1) Certificates is the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform.

(c) To whom does the Committee report?

The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform manages the vesting processes from verifier to the Chief Director up to when the Item 28 (1) Certificate is issued by the Chief Director on behalf of the Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform. The vesting applications are prepared on the Land Administration Web portal administered by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. At the administration level the PSLVDC reports to the GIAMA Technical Committee, which in turn reports to the Technical MinMec.

(d) Details of the powers of the Committee and its office bearers:

 

The PSLVDC is empowered to make recommendations on vesting applications presented before the committee in order to confirm the vesting of land parcels.

(e) Properties have been transferred as a result of the Committee’s work (i) in each of the past three financial years and (ii) since 1 April 2018:

(i) and (ii) 18 144 land parcels have been vested since 27 April 1994 to date. 4 018 land parcels have been vested from 2013/14 to 2017/18. Members of the public wishing to access information on the Land Administration Web portal must register on the following website: www.dla.org.za. Applications for access are to be done both online and manually, by downloading the form, filling it and sending it to the following fax number: (012) 312-8135.

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