Date: Tuesday, 22 October 2013
Place: Tumahole (outside Parys) – SEE DIRECTIONS BELOW
Time: 10h00-13h00

On this historic occasion, precisely 100 years since the infamous 1913 Natives Land Act was passed, the Honourable Free State Premier, Ace Magashule, will launch Ngwathe’s Land Reform Project by releasing the first title deeds in an ambitious project that includes over 30,000 black-held properties.

The Project will make Ngwathe the first local government in which all black-held land is held under full unrestricted freehold title indistinguishable from title in historically “white” areas, thereby eradicating a century of land tenure discrimination against black South Africans.

The Project will over the next few years unleash the economic potential of over 30,000 households by releasing into the hands of land holders and into the economy what has hitherto been “dead capital”.

Ngwathe is committed to promoting genuine economic freedom for its residents by granting them secure and freely tradable property rights. This will enrich and empower disadvantaged communities. Tradable land, even without the need to use it as security, by making communities “bankable”, facilitates access to a range of financial services and ensures economic growth.

The Project is a case study in the vision and challenges of conversion of black-held land into full unrestricted ownership. Each step along the way is being recorded in a manual on title conversion for use throughout South Africa. It will include recommendations to make conversion expeditious and affordable.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES
To have all permanently occupied land in Ngwathe converted to unambiguous, freely tradable, lettable and mortgageable ownership at minimal or zero cost to owners.
To create a case study and implementation manual for the project to be replicated throughout South Africa in which most black South Africans occupy land under a complex variety of restrictive tenure and titles.

PROGRAMME
1000-1030    Arrival | tea | crèche children to sing national anthem
1030-1130    Welcome | Mayor Joey Mochela, Ngwathe Council
                       Why land reform matters | Leon Louw, Free Market Foundation
                       The role of the sponsor | Marius Marais, First National Bank
                       Ngwathe’s land reform project | Premier Ace Magashule, Free State
                       (MC: Temba Nolutshungu, Free Market Foundation)
1130-1200    Ribbon cutting ceremony at nearby houses
1200-1230    Hand out of title deeds
1230-1300    Finger lunch
    
PROJECT TEAM
Ngwathe’s project partners include Ernst & Young (E&Y), First National Bank (FNB), Free Market Foundation (FMF), Law Review Project (LRP) and Routledge Modise (RM).
    
RSVP ESSENTIAL
We hope you will be able to join us to celebrate this historic event
RSVP to Gail Day gailday.fmf@mweb.co.za

Opportunities for photographs, filming and interviews;
For interviews contact Jayne Boccaleone 082 904 3616

Transport
Transport will be arranged for journalists from Johannesburg and Bloemfontein
Please book by Friday 18 October latest


Directions from Johannesburg (approx 90 mins drive)
Take the N1 to Bloemfontein
After you cross the Vaal River…
Take the R59 to Parys / Sasolburg (exit 498)
[If you go through a toll after the Vaal River, you have missed the turn]
Turn right to Parys
At first stop in Parys, continue straight into Loop street (follow the turquoise arrow sign boards from this point)
At the first robot, turn left into Kruis street and continue over the railway line
Turn right at first fourway stop
Turn left at T-junction (E&S Veevoere will be in front of you)
Cross a fourway stop and at the big T-junction take the slip road to the left (the taxi rank will be in front of you)
Pass the stadium on your left
Follow the road to the left (you will see a Pirates sign at the intersection here)
The road curves left again
Turn right at the medical centre signboard (the house on this corner is numbered 3859)
You will pass Shoprite U Save immediately on your left and a little later the surgery on your right
You will pass Metampelong General Dealer on your left and cross a small spruit
Turn left just after the red Vodacom container
Almost immediately take the dirt road to the right through a field (opposite house number 6503)
Continue along this road until you see the Rea Hodisa Crèche on your left
Turn left after the crèche and park in the open field alongside the marquee