10. In the 52nd Conference, we identified land reform and rural development as a priority.
As we approach the centenary year of the 1913 Natives Land Act, the African National Congress recommits itself to urgently accelerate the pace of land reform in South Africa.
11. In giving expression to this urgency:
• and reform must represent a radical and rapid break from the past without significantly disrupting agricultural production and food security.
• The state must mobilise resources to reverse both the human and material conditions of those displaced by previous land policies; and therefore resolves as follows:
• Transformation imperatives, dealing with the triple challenge of poverty, unemployment and inequality in rural areas ought to be addressed, without any further delay.
• Equitable land allocation and use across race, gender and class, must be ensured.
• Agrarian reform: balancing land transformation with production discipline for food security must be implemented.
Land Audit
12. We re-affirm the Polokwane resolution that a comprehensive audit of state-owned land be completed urgently.
Willing buyer willing seller
13. We affirm the following proposals:
• Replace willing buyer willing seller with the “just and equitable” principle in the Constitution immediately where the state is acquiring land for land reform purposes.
• Expropriation without compensation on land acquired through unlawful means or used for illegal purposes having due regard to section 25 of the Constitution.
• Expedite the promulgation of the new Expropriation Act.
Land Tenure system
14. A four-tier system is recommended:
• State and public land: leasehold
• Privately owned: freehold with limited extent.
15. Land owned by foreign nationals:
• No ownership of land by foreign nationals as a principle.
• Convert current ownership into long term lease after land audit has been finalised.
16. Communal land: communal tenure with institutionalised use rights.
• Taxation of under-utilised land, in both communal and commercial areas.
• Expedite the tenure security policy and bill against farm evictions.
Institutions in support of land reform
17. Land is a fundamental feature of ownership and control and whilst racial, gender and class concentration of ownership of land still persists, the setting up of institutions to regulate land use, standardise land valuations and normalise land use and distribute is important.
18. We recommend the following institutions in support of the land reform:
• Office of the valuer general (OVG).
• Land Management Commission (LMC)
• Land rights management board
• We resolve that land be recognised in the Constitution as a socio-economic right and that indigent households be allocated minimum landholdings.
Rural Development
19. We make the following recommendations with regards to rural development:
• A rural development sustained by rural co-operatives bank.
• Sustainable rural settlements, which could grow into rural town/cities.
• Prioritise roll-out of bulk infrastructure in rural areas e.g. construction of new dams and irrigation, rail, roads, communications, ICT, energy and green economy.
• Finalise without further delay the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Bill.
Food Security
20. We further recommend the implementation of the Freedom Charter’s call to help those who work the land with implements, seeds, livestock, tractors, irrigation infrastructure and other material support:
• Scale up the recapitalisation and development programme and the comprehensive agricultural support programme, including in communal areas.
• Rationalise various existing food security initiatives.
• The commission reaffirmed land as socio-economic factor.
Re-opening restitution
21. The commission recommends as follows:
• Reopening of the lodgement date.
■ Provide for exceptions to the cut-off date of 1913 so as to accommodate the Khoi and San descendants, heritage sites and historical landmarks.
• That this forms part of the 1913 Natives Land Act centenary observation.
Capacity of the State
22. Build the organisation and capability of rural communities to be champions of their own destiny:
• Various cooperatives including a rural cooperative bank.
• Rural development agency.
• Strengthen the coordination amongst local structures.
• Include local governments and traditional leaders in the local management of land administration.
• Revive agricultural colleges and make agriculture a compulsory part of the curriculum in primary school
Of interest to readers
The department of rural development and land reform has listed the following documents as part of its project “Reversing the legacy of 1913 Natives Land Act”.
[http://www.dla.gov.za/1913-land-act-centenary]
1913 Natives Land Act centenary-related documents
A Better Life: April Newsletter; The 1913 Natives’ Land Act has left a legacy that we must reverse!
“Make the Plan” Number of events and the total number of people who pledged: April 6 2013
Embrace and Disgrace Pamphlets: April 24 2013
Rural Economy Transformation Conference “Reversing the legacy of the
1913 Natives’ Land Act”, October 5-6 2012
Reversing the legacy of the 1913 Natives’ Land Act – a pledge. October 5-62012
The Natives’ Land Act no. 27 of 1913
Advertisement: Disgrace! Legacy of a painful past.