The land reform process is on the move
The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) continues to achieve enormous success in safeguarding the future and rights of thousands of farm workers and dwellers through a strategy of real empowerment that enables them to fully participate in the mainstream economy.
Through its 50/50 policy, the Department assists beneficiaries secure permanent tenure on the properties in which they work and live and a meaningful economic stake in the agricultural land and businesses.
“This ensures that the farm workers and dwellers are acknowledged as partners whose voice is recognised as equally important as the opinion of estab- lished farmers, government services or any other partners in the society,” says Minister Nkwinti.
This is at the heart of the Policy Framework on Strengthening the Relative Rights of People Working the Land, - also known as the 50/50 policy – which was first introduced in 2014 to ensure transformation and broad based participation of the farm dwellers who are farm labourers in the agricultural enterprises where they live and work.
The model being piloted in partnership with the National Empowerment Fund (NEF), avails the finance for meaningful equity in farms, ensures skills transfer from farm owners to beneficiaries, thus contributing to poverty alleviation, social cohesion in rural communities and overall economic empowerment.
“Despite initial skepticism, organised agriculture has begun to embrace the initiative. A total of ninety (90) proposals have been received from established farmers across the country from 2015 to date, these are at various stages of processing,” explains Minister Nkwinti.
Umtshezi: Another class act for 50/50 policy
Another inspiring story of workers of Westcliffe farm in Umtshezi near Greytown in KwaZulu-Natal, is another ‘feather in the cap’ of the DRDLR’s 50/50 program in ensuring that those who ‘broke their backs working on farms’ benefitted equitably.
In this case, the Department bought the land and buildings and financed infrastructure, equipment and working capital as equity contribution for the beneficiaries’ Ekhamanzi Trust, whilst the commercial farmer contributed R6million in equipment and cash to acquire a 50% stake in the new business in line with the partnership ethos of the 50/50 program.
Revenue will comprise the current produce that is on the farm, namely sugarcane, timber and cabbages. A further 30ha will be used to grow avocados.
Muntu Ntuli, trust chairperson, said the initiative was a life changer for generations of the 55 workers who are now co-owners.
Minister Nkwinti said as a consequence of this program, farm workers and dwellers no longer have to fear evictions because land tenure has been secured.