Date: 24/03/2010
Source: the Democratic Alliance
Title: DA: Steyn: Speech by DA Member of Parliament in the debate on the Rural Development and Land Reform budget vote, Parliament

Chairperson

Land or agrarian reform can be defined as an often controversial adjustment in the social arrangements whereby government administers possession and use of land. Throughout history public discontent with land related institutions has been one of the most common factors in provoking revolutionary movements and other social upheavals.

I quote from a book written by Sol Plaatjie:

"We are told to forgive our enemies and not let the sun go down upon our wrath, so we breathe the prayer that peace may be to the white races, and that they, including our present persecutors of the Union Parliament, may never live to find themselves deprived of all occupation and property rights in their native country as is now the case with the Native"

Honourable Minister, an economically free society is one in which institutions are characterised by personal choice, voluntary exchange, freedom to compete and protection of person and property. It requires policies that promote open markets, limited government, stable monetary growth, free trade and a strong rule of law.

Your department has broken that thin line that creates a stable environment and leads to economic prosperity of a country. The inclusion of the controversial paragraph in your strategic document of the section that deals with the proposed amendments to the constitution sent shock waves through an already uneasy agricultural sector. What made matters worse is that you, your deputy and the Director- General sent out contradictory statements that did not do anything to allay the fears of ordinary South Africans.

Honourable Minister, Zimbabwe is a constant reminder of how horribly wrong things can turn out if a government does not respect the rights of all its citizens. This situation can turn into a reality if your department keeps on deflecting attention away from the government's inability to manage an effective and efficient land reform programme using legally sound and sustainable measures.

Poverty in South Africa is the most dire in rural areas, and inequalities between urban and rural areas is on the increase. Government policies since 1994 have failed to address this problem, no coherent vision and strategy for rural development has been articulated to date. Your efforts to change this are a good starting point and are being acknowledged by the Democratic Alliance, but I need to inform you, Minister, that your department is battling to even get the basic things right.

One of your regional land claims offices recently changed phone numbers - without informing the public, this only came to light after I asked the regional commissioner why they do not answer their phones.
Mr Whiskey Kgabo from Limpopo fears for his life after the Limpopo commissioner wrongfully transferred only 2 portions of his 3 portions of land to land claims beneficiaries.
The department ran out of funds for restitution in June last year after they had a similar problem in 2008, still they kept on entering into purchase agreements without informing the public of the financial situation.
After questioning the D-G on the findings by the Auditor General on the issue that the state does not have a proper land audit, the department answered "they have - boxes full of records." But no land audit.
90% of land transferred to beneficiaries is in a state of disrepair. This is as a result of the department not keeping their promise to beneficiaries to transfer money for development. It is estimated that the department owes in the region of R6-billion rand to beneficiaries for post settlement grants. No capacity exists to monitor and evaluate progress of the transferring of these funds. This is one of the contributing factors of why 90% of land reform projects have failed.
Herewith follow some statements from judges against the commission on the restitution of land claims: "I wish to express my dissatisfaction with the manner in which the applicants claim was handled by the Regional Land Claims Commission (RLCC) in Kwazulu-Natal. The claim has been investigated for more than ten years without publication thereof" - Judge Mcube. "This case has been dragging on at great expense for the second defendant. The plaintiffs are sponsored by the state" - Judge Gildenhuys.
On Sunday a report by Carte Blanche showed alleged misappropriation by staff members in your department in the awarding of farms to beneficiaries. This is due to the fact that your department does not have a risk management plan in place.

Honourable Minister, gewoonlik is die spreekwoord waar wanneer dit sê; waar daar ‘n rookie is, is daar ‘n vuurtjie. Your department must immediately ask for a forensic audit to get to the bottom of this. It is also not the first time that these kinds of allegations are made.

Communication with your department hardly ever elicits any response, even President Zuma commented about the lack of communication with communities and farmers. Minister, even your own office is not responding to urgent queries that I had personally sent to you.

This situation cannot continue without your urgent attention. For many years now, land owners have been blamed by the Government for causing delays in the land reform program. These allegations are totally unfounded and are clearly intended to distract attention from the true reasons for this delay.

Minister, dit is nou tyd dat u die bul by die horings pak. Die mense van Suid Afrika is bereid om hul kant te bring om van grondhervorming ‘n sukses te maak. Wat nodig is is dat u sê waarheen die regerende party op pad is met grondhervorming. Steun u uitlatings soos wat gemaak word deur lede binne die ANC: "Ek weet in elk geval nie hoekom die regering die grond moet koop nie, die boere het dit destyds gesteel." Of is u regering regtig bereid om by u ooreenkoms soos aangegaan met die opstel van die Grondwet te bly?