New farmers not yet owners

Citizen reporter

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is “gravely concerned” that the ANC-led government is delaying resolution of the land restitution process.

Shadow minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries Annette Steyn said thousands of land claims have not been settled and the government is withholding the transfer of 1.4 million hectares, worth R8.6 billion, to its rightful owners.

“Since 1996, the ANC has spent R21 billion on acquiring 3.4 million hectares. However, only two million hectares have been transferred, meaning only 59% of land has been transferred.

“The delay ... is a clear indication the ANC-led government is not serious about ensuring our people get land.

“They simply use the land issue as a carrot to dangle in the face of the poor and landless when they campaign for votes.”

Today DA leader Mmusi Maimane is meeting farmers in Limpopo who have been blocked from obtaining ownership of the land they farm by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform.

He will announce the action the party will take to ensure they get ownership. Through the Land Redistribution for Local Development programme, emerging farmers were meant to be able to buy the land they currently lease from the state, but this has not happened, the DA said.