On 6 May 2011 the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform published the Draft Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Bill for public comment.

The Bill will replace the Development Facilitation Act No 67 of 1995, Removal of Restrictions Act No 84 of 1967, the Physical Planning Act No 88 of 1967 and other laws. The Bill will impact on all national, provincial and pre-1994 pieces of legislation on land use management and land development.

The primary objects of the Bill are to:
provide for a uniform, effective, efficient and integrated regulatory framework for spatial planning, land use and land use management in a manner that promotes the principles of co-operative government and public interest;
provide for and determine development principles, compulsory norms and standards for land use management;
maintain essential standards for land use management, spatial development and land use;
promote
i. co-operative governance;
ii. socio-economic benefits; and
iii. sustainable and efficient use of land;
establish planning tribunals; and
redress the imbalances of the past and ensure that there is equity in land use and land use management.

Written comments and consultative inputs on the Bill must be submitted by no later than 06 June 2011 to:

Sunday Ogunronbi, SOGunronbi@ruraldevelopment.gov.za, 0866 928882 (fax)

Rajesh Makan, RMakan@ruraldevelopment.gov.za, 012 321 6854 (fax)

Lindiwe Mabona, SPLUMB@ruraldevelopment.gov.za, 012 321 6808(fax)