REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
DRAFT LAND TENURE SECURITY BILL
(As introduced in the National Council of Provinces (proposed section 76); explanatory summary of Bill published in Government Gazette No. of ) (The English text is the official text of the Bill)
(MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LAND REFORM) [B -2010]
BILL
To provide for the continued protection of rights of persons who live and work on farms; to provide support framework for sustainable livelihoods of persons who live and work on farms; to provide for State assistance in the settlement of interested and affected persons on alternative land; To provide measures aimed at security of tenure, sustainable livelihoods and production discipline; to establish a land rights management board; to provide for acquisition of rights in land for resettlement; to provide transitional provisions for the finalisation of applications under Chapter III of the Land Reform (Labour Tenants) Act, 1996; and to provide for matters connected therewith.
PREAMBLE
WHEREAS the Constitution establishes a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights and seeks to improve the quality of life of all citizens and to free the potential of each person;
AND WHEREAS the State must respect, protect, promote and fulfil those rights;
AND WHEREAS it is desirable-
- that the law should give due recognition to the rights and legitimate interests of landowners, while extending the rights of persons residing on farms and clarifying the rights of persons working on farms;
- that the law should promote the achievement of long-term security of tenure for persons residing on farms including the provision of alternative land;
- that the law should prohibit the arbitrary eviction of persons residing on farms from land; and
- that the laws pertaining to the security of tenure rights for persons residing on farms and labour tenants be consolidated to provide for persons residing on farms and labour tenants to enjoy the same rights; and to ensure that persons residing on farms and labour tenants are not further prejudiced.
BE IT ENACTED by the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, as follows:-
CHAPTER 1
DEFINITIONS AND OBJECTS
Definitions
1. (1) In this Act, unless the context indicates otherwise-
"Board" means the Land Rights Management Board established in terms of this Act;
"consent" means express or tacit consent of the owner or person in charge of the land in question in relation to the person residing on farm's rights in land;
"Constitution" means the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996; "court" means a competent court having jurisdiction in terms of this Act;
"Department" means the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform; "Director-General" means the Director-General of the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform;
"evict" means to deprive a person against his or her will of residence on land or the use of land or access to services linked to a right of residence in terms of this Act, and
"eviction" has a corresponding meaning;
"executive authority" means the executive authority as defined in the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No. I of 1999);
"Labour Tenants Act" means the Land Reform (Labour Tenants) Act, 1996 (Act No. 3 of 1996);
"Minister" means the Minister responsible for Rural Development and Land Reform;
"municipality" means a municipality as defined in the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998 (Act No. 117 of 1998);
"owner" means the owner of the land at the time of the relevant act, omission or conduct;
"person in charge" means a person who at the time of the relevant act, omission or conduct has or had legal authority to manage or control the land in question; "prescribed" means prescribed by regulation;
"Public Finance Management Act" means the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No. 1 of 1999);
"regulation" means a regulation made under this Act;
"relative rights" means the relational nature of the rights of persons working on farms and owners as contemplated in Chapter 4;
"relocate" means to move a person from one piece of land to another piece of land, and
"relocation" has a corresponding meaning;
"right in land" means any real or personal right in land, including a right to cropping and
grazing land;
"suitable alternative land" means alternative land which is safe and not less favourable than the persons residing on farms' previous situation, having regard to the residential accommodation and land for agricultural use available to them, and suitable having regard to the reasonable needs and requirements of all of the person residing on farms in the household in question for residential accommodation, land for agricultural use, and services;
"traditional community" means a traditional comm unity as defined in the Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act, 2003 (Act No. 41 of 2003).
(2) In respect of unalienated State land, unsurveyed State land, or land registered in the name of the State or an institution or functionary exercising powers on behalf of the State, "owner or person in charge" includes a person, who at the time of the relevant act, omission or conduct has been delegated by the executive authority to manage or control the land in question.
Objects of the Act
2. The objects of the Act are-
(a) to promote and protect the relative rights of persons working on farms, persons residing on farms, and farm owners;
(b) to enhance the security of tenure of persons residing on farms;
(c) to create conditions conducive to peaceful and harmonious relationships on farms and in farming communities; and
(d) to sustain production discipline on land in the interest of food security.
CHAPTER 2
APPLICATION OF THE ACT
Application
3. This Act applies to all agricultural land, land used for agricultural purposes or farms other than land occupied by traditional communities.
Relationship with other laws
4. (1) Nothing in this Act shall affect the rights of an owner, person in charge or person residing on farm in terms of the Trespass Act, 1959 (Act No. 6 of 1959).
(2) A person whose right or interest is covered by this Act is excluded from the operation of the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act, No. l9of 1998.
(3) A person whose informal right to land, but for the provisions of this Act, would be protected by the provisions of the Interim Protection of Informal Land Rights Act, 1996 (Act No. 31 of 1996) is excluded from the operation of this Act.
Pending matters in terms of other legislation
5. (1) Notwithstanding the repeal of the Labour Tenants Act the provisions of Chapter III of the Labour Tenants Act, 1996 continue to apply to all labour tenants who have applied for the acquisition of ownership or other rights in land and whose applications are still to be finalised in terms of the provisions of that Act.
(2) Pending proceedings for restoration of rights in terms of the Extension of Security of Tenure Act, 1997 and the Labour Tenants Act shall be dealt with in terms of the provisions of this Act.
CHAPTER 3
CATEGORIES OF PERSONS COVERED BY ACT
Persons covered by this Act
6. This Act applies to persons falling within any of the categories in this Chapter.
Persons residing on farms
7. (1) A person, including his or her family members, who is residing on land which belongs to another person, and who has or had consent or another right in law to do so, but excluding a person using or intending to use the land in question mainly for industrial and mining purposes.
(2) A person-
(a) who is residing or has the right to reside on a farm; and
(b) who has or has had the right to use cropping or grazing land on the farm, referred to in paragraph (a), or another farm of the owner, and in consideration of such right provides or has provided labour to the owner or lessee; and
(c) whose family members resided or resides on a farm and had the use of cropping or grazing land on such farm or another farm of the owner, and in consideration of such right provided or provides labour to the owner or lessee of such or such other farm; and
(3) A person who, on or before 31 March 2001, has lodged an application in terms of the provisions of Chapter III of the Labour Tenants Act, 1996.
Persons working on farms
8. A person-
(a) who in any manner assist in carrying on or conducting the business of farming excluding the owner of the farm; or
(b) employed in a home on a farm or engaged by the owner for other farming activities including as a domestic worker or security guard.
Persons associated with persons residing or working on farms
9. A person is associated with persons residing or working on farms being:
(a) a spouse, including a partner in a customary union, whether or not the union is registered;
(b) a child including nephew or niece under the age of eighteen years;
(c) a child including nephew or niece over the age of eighteen years who attends a school;
(d) parents;
(e) brother or sister,
of a person residing or working on farm.
Farm-owners and authorised agents
10. A person
(a) who owns a farm, agricultural undertaking or agricultural land as a natural person or is the beneficial owner of the interests in a juristic person or is in actual or effective control of a farming business or receive in any manner the pecuniary benefits accruing from such a farm, agricultural undertaking or agricultural land, or
(b) acts as agent, manager or controlling mind of the person described in (a).
Consent to reside on land
11. (1) A person who resided on or used land with the consent of the farm owner, and such consent was lawfully withdrawn shall be deemed to be a person residing on farm, provided that he or she has resided continuously on that land for a period of at least one year after the consent was withdrawn.
(2) For the purposes of this Act, consent by a farm-owner or authorised agent to a person to reside on land is effective notwithstanding a defect in or failure to obtain a requisite authority required by law for such residence.
(3) For the purposes of this Act, a person who has continuously and openly resided on land for a period of six months shall be presumed to have consent unless the contrary is proved.
(4) Consent contemplated in this Act shall be binding on successors in title.
CHAPTER 4
RELATIVE RIGHTS AND DUTIES
Relativity of Rights
12. All persons affected by this Act must respect the rights of every person and not violate any right of another person protected by the Constitution.
Rights of farm owners
13. (1) A farm owner may exercise any of the rights in terms of the Constitution and other laws including the following rights:-
(a) right to property;
(b) right of the employer in terms of the Labour Relations Act, No 66 of 1995, the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, No 75 of 1997, and other labour laws;
(c) right to family life; and
(d) right to dignity.
(2) The rights of the farm owner are subject to any reasonable condition imposed by this Act or any other law.
Duties of farm owners
14. A farm owner must not-
(a) intentionally or unlawfully harm any person occupying the land;
(b) intentionally or unlawfully cause material damage to the property of the person residing on farm or person working on farm;
(c) prevent the person residing on farm or person working on farm from accessing educational, health or any other public facility; or
(d) breach any provisions of relevant labour and employment legislation.
Rights of persons residing on farms
15. (1) A person who resides on a farm may exercise any of the following
rights-
(a) right to own livestock and not be unreasonably restricted;
(b) right to grazing land for the livestock;
(c) right to crop;
(d) right to have reasonable access to pathways;
(e) right to build houses and homesteads;
(f) right to visit and be visited;
(g) right to bury members of the family on the farm;
(h) right of access to burial grounds and ancestral land;
(i) right to reasonably practise culture;
(j) right of access to clean water;
(k) right of access to electricity;
(l) right of access to development;
(m) right not to be denied or deprived of access to educational or health services;
(n) right to do commercial farming and access to skills;
(o) right to work in compliance with the Labour Relations Act, No 66 of 1995, the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, No 75 of 1997, and other labour laws;
(p) right to education for self and family;
(q) right to family life; and
(r) right to dignity.
(2) The rights of the persons residing on farms are subject to any
reasonable condition imposed by the owner of such land in order to safeguard life or property on the land.
Duties of persons residing on farms
16. (1) A person working on farm must provide labour to the owner in accordance with the conditions of employment as agreed upon between such person working on farm and owner.
(2) A person residing on farm must not-
(a) intentionally or unlawfully harm any person occupying the land;
(b) intentionally or unlawfully cause material damage to the property of the owner; or
(c) assist persons who do not reside on the land to unlawfully establish new dwellings on such land.
Rights of persons working on farms
17. A person who works on a farm may exercise any of the following rights-
(a) right to work in compliance with the Labour Relations Act, No 66 of 1995, the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, No 75 of 1997, and other labour laws;
(b) right to education for self and family;
(c) right to family life; and
(d) right to dignity.
Duties of persons working on farms
18. (1) A person working on farm must provide labour to the owner in accordance with the conditions of employment as agreed upon between such person working on farm and owner.
(2) A person working on farm must not-
(a) intentionally or unlawfully harm any person occupying the land;
(b) intentionally or unlawfully cause material damage to the property of the owner; or
(c) assist persons who do not reside on the land to unlawfully establish new dwellings on such land.
CHAPTER 5
MANAGEMENT OF EVICTIONS
Scope of Eviction
19. (1) An eviction in terms of this Act is any act or omission resulting in the permanent or temporary removal of a person residing on farm against her or his will from her or his home or land being occupied.
(2) Eviction may occur through one or more of the followings-
(a) prevention of access to place of residence;
(b) closure of schools;
(c) interference with performance of cultural practices;
(d) denial or prevention of access to water and electricity;
(e) refusal to allow burial on the farm;
(f) unilateral reduction of rights protected in this Act;
(g) not being allowed to own livestock in circumstances where you have previously owned livestock on the same farm or another farm of the same owner;
(h) demolishing of a home;
(i) forcing different families to live together;
(j) forced relocation of a homestead.
Conditions and Circumstances under which Evictions may be lawful
20. (1) A person who resides on land as part of the conditions of employment, may be evicted upon lawful termination of the employment contract in accordance with the provisions of the Labour Relations Act, 1995 (Act No. 66 of 1995), provided that a formal process of eviction under the provisions of this Act has been followed.
(2) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the right of residence of a person residing on farm may be terminated on any lawful ground, provided that such termination is just and fair.
(3) The right of residence of a person residing on farm who is an employee and whose right of residence arises solely from an employment agreement, may be terminated if the person residing on farm resigns from employment or is dismissed in accordance with the provisions of the Labour Relations Act, 1995.
(4) Any dispute over whether a person residing on farm's employment was terminated as contemplated in subsection (3), shall be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Labour Relations Act, 1995, and the termination shall take effect when any dispute over the termination has been determined in accordance with that Act.
(5) A notice contemplated in section 23(1 )(b) shall supersede any other notice purporting to terminate the right of residence of a person residing on farm as part of resolving a dispute contemplated in subsection (4).
(6) The right of residence of a person residing on farm who has resided on the land in question or any other land belonging to the owner for more than ten years and is older than sixty years or is an employee or former employee of the owner and as a result of ill health, injury or disability is unable to supply labour to the owner may not be terminated unless that person residing on farm has committed a breach contemplated in section 16 (2).
(7) On the death of a person residing on farm contemplated in subsection
(6), the right of residence of his or her family members may be terminated only on 12 calendar months' written notice to leave the land, unless such a family member has committed a breach contemplated in section 16.
(8) Any termination of the right of residence of a person residing on farm to prevent such person residing on farm from acquiring rights in terms of this section, shall be void.
(9) If the right of residence of a person residing on farm has been terminated in terms of this section, or the person residing on farm is a person who has a right of residence in terms of subsection (7)-
(a) the person residing on farm and the owner may agree that the terms and conditions under which the person residing on farm resided on the land prior to such termination shall apply to any period between the date of termination and the date of the eviction of the person residing on farm; or
(b) the owner may institute proceedings in a court for a determination of reasonable terms and conditions of further residence, having regard to the income of all the persons residing on farms in the household.
(10) An eviction shall be lawful only where adequate procedural and legal safeguards have been complied with including-
(a) an opportunity for genuine consultation with those affected;
(b) adequate and reasonable notice for all affected persons prior to the scheduled date of eviction;
(c) information on the proposed evictions, and, where applicable, on the alternative purpose for which the land or accommodation is to be used, to be made available in reasonable time to all those affected;
(d) where groups of people are involved, government officials or their representatives to be present during an eviction;
(e) all persons carrying out the eviction to be properly identified;
(f) evictions not to take place in particularly bad weather or at night unless the affected persons consent otherwise;
(g) provision of legal remedies; and
(h) provision, where possible, of legal aid to persons who are in need of it to seek redress from the courts.
(11) An eviction may not result in persons affected being rendered homeless or vulnerable to the violation of other human rights.
Prohibition of arbitrary eviction
21. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, a person residing on farm may be evicted only in terms of an Order of Court issued under this Act.
Eviction Proceedings
22. (1) An eviction proceedings may not be instituted, continued or maintained unless the owner has given 3 months notice of his or her intention to make an application to Court in terms of this Act to the affected person, the municipal manager of the municipality in whose area of jurisdiction the land in question is situated, and to the Board.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1), the owner may make urgent application for the removal of any person residing on farm from land pending the outcome of proceedings for a final order, and the court may grant an order for the removal of that person residing on farm if it is satisfied that-
(a) there is a real and imminent danger of substantial injury or damage to any person or property if the person residing on farm is not forthwith removed from the land;
(b) there is no other effective remedy available;
(c) the likely hardship to the owner or any other affected person if an order for removal is not granted, exceeds the likely hardship to the person residing on farm against whom the order is sought, if an order for removal is granted; and
(d) the owner has made adequate arrangements for the reinstatement of any evicted person if the final order is not granted.
(3) The owner shall beforehand give reasonable notice of any application in terms of this section to the municipal manager of the municipality in whose area of jurisdiction the land in question is situated, and to the Board for information.
General Limitations on Evictions
23. (1) A court may make an order for the eviction of a person residing on farm if-
(a) the person residing on farm has not vacated the land within the period of thirty days notified by the owner; and
(b) the owner has, after the expiry of the thirty days written notice of termination of the right of residence, given-
(i) the person residing on farm;
(ii) the municipality in whose area of jurisdiction the land in question is situated; (iii) the Board; and
(iii) the Director General,
not less than 3 calendar months' written notice of the intention to obtain an order for
eviction, which notice shall contain the prescribed particulars and set out the grounds on which the eviction is based.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1 )(b), the Court must request a probation officer contemplated in section 1 of the Probation Services Act, 1991 (Act No. 116 of 1991), or an officer of the department or any other officer in the employment of the State, as may be determined by the Minister, to submit a report within a reasonable period-
(a) on the availability of suitable alternative accommodation to the person residing on farm;
(b) indicating how an eviction will affect the constitutional rights of any affected person, including the rights of the children, if any, to education;
(c) pointing out any undue hardships which an eviction would cause the person residing on farm; and
(d) on any other matter as may be prescribed.
Order for eviction
24. (1) If it was an express term of the consent granted to a person residing on farm to reside on the land in question, that the consent would terminate upon a fixed or determinable date, a court may on termination of such consent by effluxion grant an order for eviction of any person who was a person residing on farm on the land in question, if it is just and equitable to do so.
(2) In circumstances other than those contemplated in subsection (1), a court may grant an order for eviction in respect of any person who was a person residing on farm, if it is of the opinion that it is just and equitable to do so.
(3) In deciding whether it is just and equitable to grant an order for eviction in terms of this section, the court shall have regard to-
(a) the reason for the proposed eviction; and
(b) the fairness of the terms of any agreement between the parties.
Effect of order for eviction
25. (1) Where the court grants an eviction of a person residing on farm, such order may not be executed within a period of less than 2 months.
(2) The court shall, upon issuing an order contemplated in subsection (1), direct the municipal manager of the local municipality within whose jurisdiction the subject land is located, the Board and the owner, to jointly submit to court a plan indicating relevant details for the provision of suitable alternative land for the affected person residing on farm.
(3) The plan contemplated in subsection (2) shall be submitted within a period of 2 months of the issuing of the order.
CHAPTER 6
AGRI-VILLAGES AND LAND DEVELOPMENT MEASURES
Agri-villages and Land Development Assistance
26. (1) The Minister may institute land development measures including the establishment of agri-villages, industrial parks and such other initiatives aimed at creating economic and social support for persons covered within the objects of this Act.
(2) The powers, duties and responsibilities conferred by the Land Reform: Provision of Land and Assistance Act, No 126 of 1993 on the Minister may be exercised by him or her as may be suitable for the achievement of the objects of this Act, in general, in cases of a particular nature or in specific cases.
(3) The Board may, consistent with the plans and programmes administered or instituted by or under the authority of the Minister or the Minister responsible for human settlements and other responsible State organs, establish sustainable human settlements for persons residing on farms and persons working on farms.
(4) Prior to the establishment of agri-villages, industrial parks, sustainable human settlements or other land development initiatives the owner may enter into an agreement with persons residing on farms in terms of which such persons are relocated to suitable alternative land.
(5) The agreement contemplated in subsection (4), or any other similar agreement, shall be subject to the approval of the Minister.
Resettlement Measures
27. (1) The Board shall, where those affected or likely to be affected by eviction are unable to provide for themselves, take all appropriate measures, to the maximum of its available resources, to ensure that adequate alternative accommodation, resettlement or access to productive land, as the case may be, is available.
(2) The Board shall ensure, in cases where evictions have been deemed lawful and in compliance with this Act, the right of all persons, groups and communities to suitable resettlement which includes the right to alternative land or accommodation which is safe, secure, accessible, affordable and habitable.
(3) The Board shall ensure that resettlement is only carried out in the public interest, or where the safety, health or enjoyment of human rights demands, that particular persons, groups and communities are subjected to resettlement.
(4) Resettlement must occur in a just and equitable manner.
(5) The Board shall ensure that in the context of any case of resettlement the following criteria are adhered to:
(a) The rights of women, children and other vulnerable groups are recognised in any resettlement measure;
(b) No affected persons, groups or communities, shall suffer detriment as far as their human rights are concerned;
(c) Affected persons, groups and communities provide their full and informed consent as regards the relocation site;
(d) The resettlement process should be carried out in full consultation and participation with the affected persons, groups and communities; and
(e) Resettlement should take into account in particular all alternate plans proposed by the affected persons, groups and communities.
Expropriation
28. (1) The Expropriation Act, No. 63 of 1975 shall apply to an expropriation under this Act and any reference to the Minister of Public Works in that Act must be construed as a reference to the Minister for the purpose of such expropriation.
(2) Where the Minister acquires or expropriates land, a portion of land or a right in land under this Act, the amount of compensation and the time and manner of payment shall be determined either by agreement or as regulated by the Expropriation Act 1975 (Act No. 63 of 1975) and in accordance with section 25(3) of the Constitution.
Temporary right to use
29. (1) The Board may acquire either in agreement with the land owner or through the Expropriation Act a temporary right to use a piece of land for resettlement purposes where a permanent expropriation is not desirable in the interest of affected persons.
(2) The provisions of the Expropriation Act, 1975 (No. 63 of 1975) applies in the case of acquisition of land for temporal use for the purposes of this Act.
Transfer Duties
30. Transfer duty shall not be payable in respect of the transfer of land or the cession of any right in land in terms of this Chapter.
Legal Aid
31. The Minister may from money appropriated by Parliament for that purpose, make funding available for the legal representation of persons residing on farms, labour tenants and persons working on farms whose real or personal rights in land are in any way threatened or affected.
Integrated Government Services
32. The Minister may in general and specific cases enter into agreement with other organs of state to ensure integrated delivery of government services to persons covered by this Act.
CHAPTER 7
MANAGEMENT OF RESETTLEMENT UNITS AND AGRI-VILLAGES
Establishment
33 (1) A committee of each resettled community or agri-village consisting of representatives from such community or agri-village must be established to manage the affairs of the community or agri-village.
(2) A committee established for a resettled community or agri-village must be registered with the Board and reports to the Board.
(3) The number of persons forming a committee is as prescribed by the Board and may be increased with the approval of the Board.
Community Management Rules
34 (1) A committee of a resettled community or agri-village must operate in accordance with rules made by the Board.
(2) The rules shall provide for the control, management, administration, use and enjoyment of the individual units and the common property.
(3) Rules applicable to a community must be reasonable and fair.
(4) The Rules applicable to a community may be amended by the community with the approval of the Board
Duties and Responsibilities of a Resettled Community Committee
35 (1) To act as a central body representative of all affected groups within a resettled community.
(2) To aid and assist the Board in managing the development initiatives affecting the community.
(3) To offer a plafform to inform and advise community members of the State's and other development activities and ensure by means of concerted action, the achievement of such development goals.
(4) To co-ordinate the view points of all affected groups in order to ensure involvement and participation of members of the community.
(5) To create and maintain communication channels between the community and other development bodies.
(6) To liaise with other community organisations.
(7) To assist in the enforcement of rules and other development initiatives within the community.
CHAPTER 8
LAND RIGHTS MANAGEMENT BOARD
Establishment
36. (1) The Land Rights Management Board is hereby established.
(2) The Public Finance Management Act applies to the Board. Roles andResponsibilities
37. The Board must-
(a) ensure the effective and efficient implementation of measures designed to achieve the objects of this Act including development measures to uphold and promote the rights of affected persons;
(b) manage land rights including the provision of legal aid and legal representation to affected persons in terms of this Act;
(c) facilitate dispute resolution amongst persons affected by the provisions of this Act; (d) implement information dissemination measures to develop awareness of the provisions of this Act;
(e) acquire and regulate the management of land for resettlement including the implementation of related development measures;
(f) ensure the effective management of committees in resettled communities or agriv illage, make wles and guidelines applicable to committees in resettled communities; and
(g) generally deal with any other matter referred to it by the Minister in connection with the achievement of the objects of this Act.
General powers
38. The Board has the power and authority under the general and specific direction of the Minister and in accordance with the Public Finance Management Act to do all things necessary and incidental to the achievement of the functions of the Board in terms of this Act.
Board composition and membership
39. (1) The Board consists of-
(a) not fewer than seven and not more than nine members; and
(b) the Director-General or an official of the Department designated by the Director* General.
(2) The Minister-
(a) must determine the number of members to be appointed in terms of subsection (1);
(b) may alter the number determined in terms of paragraph (a), but a reduction in the number may be effected only when a vacancy in the Board occurs.
(3) A member of the Board must-
(a) be a fit and proper person to hold office as a member; and
(b) have appropriate qualifications and relevant experience.
(4) Whenever it is necessary to appoint members of the Board, the Minister must-
(a) through advertisements in the media invite nominations for appointment as such a member; and
(b) compile a list of the names of persons nominated, setting out the prescribed particulars of each individual nominee.
(5) Any nomination made pursuant to an advertisement in terms of
subsection (4)(a) must be supported by-
(a) the personal details of the nominee;
(b) nominee's qualifications or experience; and
(c) any other information that may be prescribed.
(6) The Board must be representative of the communities and interest affected by this Act.
Terms and Conditions of Office
40. The term of office, conditions of appointment, termination of membership, operating procedures, and related matters must be prescribed by the Minister.
Financial matters
41. The Minister may, on receipt of a budgeted request, grant to the Board out of money appropriated by Parliament, such amounts as he or she considers necessary in order to enable the Board to carry out its functions and may determine the conditions of the grant.
CHAPTER 9
DISPUTE RESOLUTIONS AND COURTS
Choice of court
24. (1) The Land Claims Court shall have jurisdiction in terms of this Act throughout the Republic and shall have all the ancillary powers necessary or reasonably incidental to the performance of its functions in terms of this Act, including the power-
(a) to decide any constitutional matter in relation to this Act;
(b) to grant interlocutory orders, declaratory orders and interdicts; and
(c) to review an act, omission or decision of any functionary acting or purporting to act in terms of this Act.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1), a party may institute proceedings in the magistrate's court within whose area of jurisdiction the land in question is situated.
(3) The Rules Board for Courts of Law established by section 2 of the Rules Board for Courts of Law Act, 1985 (Act No. 107 of 1985), may make rules to govern the procedure in the Magistrates' Court in terms of this Act.
(4) Until such time as rules of court for the magistrates' courts are made in terms of subsection (3), the rules of the Land Claims Court shall apply, with the necessary amendments, in respect of any proceedings in a magistrate's court in terms of this Act.
Powers of courts
43. (1) A court may, in addition to other powers set out in this Act-
(a) direct how the order of the court shall be executed, including the setting of time limits for the implementation of such orders; and
(b) make such orders for costs as it deems just.
(2) A magistrate's court-
(a) shall have jurisdiction in respect of-
(i) proceedings for relocation or restoration of rights; and
(ii) criminal proceedings in terms of this Act; and
(b) shall be competent-
(i) to grant interdicts in terms of this Act; and
(ii) to issue declaratory orders as to the rights of a party in terms of this Act.
(3) Civil appeals from magistrates' courts in terms of this Act shall be heard by the Land Claims Court.
(4) Any order by a magistrate's court in terms of this Act, shall be subject
to automatic review by the Land Claims Court, which may-
(a) confirm such order in whole or in part;
(b) set aside such order in whole or in part;
(c) substitute such order in whole or in part; or
(d) remit the case to the magistrate's court with directions to deal with any matter in such manner as the Land Claims Court may deem fit.
(5) The provisions of subsection (4) shall not apply to a case in which an appeal has been noted against the decision of a Magistrate.
(6) Any order contemplated in subsection (4) shall be suspended pending the review thereof by the Land Claims Court.
(7) If in any proceedings in a High Court at the date of the commencement of this Act, where that Court is required to preside over any matter which is dealt with in this Act that Court shall stop the proceedings and refer the matter to the Land Claims Court.
(8) The President of the Land Claims Court may make rules- (a) to govern the procedure in the Land Claims Court in terms of this Act; and (b) to govern the procedure for the automatic review of all orders in terms of section
(9) Appeals from the Land Claims Court shall be heard in the Supreme Court of Appeal.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
44. (1) A party may request the Board to appoint one or more persons with expertise in dispute resolution to facilitate meetings of interested parties and to attempt to mediate and settle any dispute in terms of this Act.
(2) The Board may, on the conditions determined by the Board, appoint a person to facilitate meetings or mediate a dispute.
CHAPTER 10
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Regulations
45. The Minister may make regulations regarding all matters which are reasonably necessary or expedient to be prescribed in order to achieve the objects of this Act.
Offences
46. (1) A person who obstructs or interferes with an official in the employ of the State or a mediator or legal representative in the performance of his or her duties under this Act is guilty of an offence.
(2) Any person who contravenes a provision of this Act is on conviction liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years.
Amendment of Laws
47. The laws mentioned in the Schedule are hereby amended to the extent indicated in the third column thereof.
Repeal of Laws
48. (1) The Extension of Security of Tenure Act, 1997 (Act No. 62 of 1997) is hereby repealed.
(2) The Land Reform (Labour Tenants) Act, 1996 (Act No. 3 of 1996) is
hereby repealed.
Short title
49. This Act shall be called the Land Tenure Security Act, 2010.
Source: Department of Rural Development & Land Reform, December 23 2010 (transcribed from PDF - please check against the original.)
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