Communal land tenure bill: comments open

The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform is calling on South Africans to submit written comments on the Communal Land Tenure Bill, 2017, following its publication for public comment for a period of 60 days from 7 July.

The bill seeks to regulate communal land.

Communal land encompasses land occupied mostly by African communities in the former homelands.

The state continues to hold communal land in trust for communities, perpetuating a situation where those communities are not sure of their tenure on the land.

The Bill, among other things, makes provision that ownership of land acquired by the state can be transferred to communities and community members.

It also aims to enable the community access to land on an equitable basis; to bestow on community members the right to use land owned by the state; and provide for registration of communal land.

The main objects of the bill are:

a) To convert legally insecure tenure into ownership where persons and communities already hold some form of rights to land;

b) To enable the state to grant persons and communities the right to use land that is acquired and owned by the state; and

c) To provide for the administration of communal land in general.

A consultation with the community of the Eden District will take place on 8 August. A venue is still to be confirmed.

Members of the public are invited to submit written comments to: The DirectorGeneral: Rural Development and Land Reform, Attention: Adv Sello Ramasala, Private Bag X833, Pretoria, 0001.

It can also be faxed to 012 324 2118 or e-mailed to CLTBill@ drdlr.gov.za or sello.ramasala@ drdlr.gov.za.