Documents handed out:
Info Pak
Minister's Parliamentary Briefing on Agriculture
Department of Land Affairs booklet

SUMMARY
The minister addressed land and agricultural issues, and outlined the goals, objectives, priorities, programmes, budget and challenges of the department.

MINUTES
The briefing was made by the Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs, Ms Thoko Didiza, and was chaired by Patekile Holomisa of the ANC. The minister started the meeting by focusing on the agricultural sector of the department. She attributed the success of the agricultural business to the fact that we live, as it is an important custodian of our genetic and natural resources.

The minister identified the character of South African agriculture as:

-Unsupported and underdeveloped in rural ex-homeland areas;

-High levels of advancement in technological and capital use;

-Challenged by the new regional and international trade environment;

-Underpinned by the emotive issue of land reform, and the reality of limited arable land;

-Having significant potential in some products, and

-Having the capacity to contribute to job creation.

Ms Didiza said that their vision for South Africa is to build a strong economy, in the process of reducing inequalities, by increasing incomes and employment opportunities for the poor, whilst nurturing our inheritance of natural resources.

The department's three policy goals were outlined as follows:

-To build an efficient and competitive agricultural sector, which facilitates the emergence of a black agricultural sector;

-To support the emergence of a diverse production structure with an increased number of successful small holder farming systems and

-To conserve natural resources and implement policies and institutions for sustainable agricultural production.

The minister said that their strategic objective is to facilitate agricultural entrepeneurship development, to promote and support the development of trade, investment and human capital in the agricultural sector, as well as to create an efficient service department, which is responsive to the diverse agriculture client base.

The minister outlined the agricultural priorities for the next 5 years as follows:

Implementation of a good Farmer Settlement Programme; Improve agricultural support services; Facilitate infrastructure development in the areas of market, communication and development; Develop a framework to support food security; Facilitate trade development and support; Implement a Human Resources Development Programme; Facilitate sustainable natural resources management and use. Ms Didiza informed the committee of the department's institutional arrangements, which is to collaborate with the 9 provincial Departments of Agriculture, and to engage in national and provincial bilaterals.

The committee was informed of the Departmental structure, which consists of Developement, Trade and economic Policy Analysis, and Resources use and Management. The budget for 1999\2000 totaled at R662 042. The budget programmes includes: Agricultural support and development; Administration; Sustainable resources use and management; Agricultural production; Trade and economic policy analysis; as well as Auxiliary. The minister identified job creation, improving national development, as well as addressing the gaps in delivery, as the key challenges facing agriculture.

Minister Didiza now addressed the issues dealing with land affairs, and identified land reform, cadastral surveys, surveys and mapping, and registration of deeds as the four core functions of the department. The minister said that the functions of land reform included redistribution, restitution, land development facilitation, and tenure reform.

Ms Didiza described their redistribution programme, as the most advanced programme, which focused on poor rural people, labour tenants, farm workers, and emerging farmers, particularly women. She informed the committee of the establishment of the Land Reform Credit Facility, which is managed by Khula Enterprise, with an initial funding of R54m.

The aim of the tenure land reform and state land development, is to provide people with secure tenure where they live, and to prevent arbitrary or unfair evictions. She added that tenure reform in 'communal' or 'tribal' areas' is necessary to resolve overlapping and conflicting interests in the same land, to secure the position of people living on that land, to ensure democratic decision-making on land use and disposal, as well as facilitating investment in the land.

Restitution is a constitutionally mandated programme, which aims at reversing over 80 years of dispossession through racial discrimination. This is a lengthily programme, due to the complexity of each claim, as well as the financial costs involved. The restitution awareness campaign has led to an increase in the number of claims, from 27 000 in June 1998, to 63 455 by 31 December 1998. Current restitution statistics includes: Claims finalised in favour of claimnants- 322, Claims dismissed- 284m, Land restored- 264615ha, Land cost- R45 457m (excluding cost of state land), Compensation paid- R13m.

Survey and mapping, which was identified as one of the core functions, is responsible for the national mapping and aerial photography programme, as well as the maintenance of integrated survey system. New Global Positioning Systems (GPS) were set up, which reduces survey costs, and forms part of a multiyear programme. Cadastral surveys include the completion of Project Miracle, which involved the capturing of 6million urban land parcels in digital format, for election. A National Spatial Information Framework is being undertaken, while 414 780 diagrams, general plans, draft sectional plans and survey records were approved during the past year. An electronic registration system is being developed with regard to deeds registration, which will be of particular importance for registration of land rights other than ownership.

MP Mpulanga Province: Does 87% of the land still belong to the old minority population? If so, then how far have we moved?

Minister: The 87% includes all land owned by the state, eg. Parliament, National parks, etc. Due to the open market of sales, property has shifted hands from white to black. The state housing programme, and grants through the Department of Land Affairs has also shifted land, therefore changing the equation. The 13% used in the statistics were in the form of homelands.

MP: How does the state intervene with tribal land that is available for farming?

Minister: Tribal land is held in trust for the clan, or the community, and does not belong to the chief or one person only. The minister is the trustee of the land on behalf of all the members of the tribe. Together the community should decide how the land should be utilised.

MP felt that R16 000 grant was insufficient for the poor rural communities to embark on farming.

Minister Acknowledged that this grant does not answer all the problems. The purpose of this grant is merely to provide access to land, or as a mechanism to improve land development.

Mr N Middleton (IFP): What is being done about farms that is idle and unproductive? There are many cases when the owners leave the rural areas and settle in the cities.

Minister: If the owner is not willing to sell the land, then the state can expropriate the land from owners that does not utilise their resources. The question of vacant land will be looked into.

With no further questions, the chairperson thanked all the committee members for attending the briefing, and called the meeting closed.