Replies by President Jacob Zuma to questions for oral reply, National Assembly, May 27 2010
11. The Leader of the Opposition (DA) to ask the President of the Republic:
How does he reconcile his recent comments at the Black Management Forum on 29 April 2010 about the Government's faster and more pragmatic approach to land reform with his comments that such a policy would be carried out within the ambit of the law?
REPLY:
Honourable Member, there is no contradiction between faster land reform and the consistent application of the law.
Government has recognised that the land reform programmes implemented to date have not been entirely sustainable.
They have not provided the anticipated socio-economic benefits to all the recipients of the programmes.
Among other things, this is the result of institutional weaknesses in overall land management, policy and legislation.
As a result, the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform embarked on the development of a Green Paper on Agrarian Transformation, Rural Development and Land Reform, which is currently being finalised for submission to Cabinet.
The Green Paper is intended to culminate in a new land policy framework and an omnibus of legislation which should be a consolidation of all land-related laws.
While we are in the process of developing legislation linked to the Green Paper process, it is imperative that we find immediate mechanisms to respond to the plight of farm workers and farm dwellers.
We will soon introduce a Land Tenure Bill, which will repeal the Extension of Security of Tenure Act and the Labour Tenants Act.
This Bill will be informed by the following objectives:
- to protect the relative rights of farm workers, farm dwellers and landowners;
- to strengthen the rights of farm dwellers; and,
- to enhance food security through sustained production discipline.
Any new policies or legislation will be developed in line with the Constitution and will follow the normal Cabinet and parliamentary processes.
I reiterate that the pursuit of a sustainable and accelerated approach to land reform will be carried out within the ambit of the law and we should still be able to do it faster.
I thank you.
Issued by: The Presidency, May 27 2010
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