Date: 24/03/2010
Source: The Independent Democrats
Title: ID: De Lille: Speech by the ID president in the debate on the Rural Development and Land Reform budget vote, Parliament

Honourable Chair and Honourable Minister, the ID understands that this new Department faces the difficult task of trying to implement its new plans against the backdrop of decreasing available finance.

It is indeed unfortunate that during the years when there was enough money, not enough was done to support the beneficiaries of land reform. 

The ID agrees that all transferred land must be used productively and we are happy with the Department's recognition that the land reform process has been flawed because redistributed land did not receive enough post-settlement support.

The ID remains concerned that land reform is being put on hold and that we are getting conflicting signals as to how we are going to deal with this issue going forward.

South Africa needs a clear direction on policy, together with achievable targets. 

Mr Minister, we also do not want to see the aspirations of the landless being continuously dashed, as they have been over the past 16 years.

The proposal to make land a national asset in the upcoming green paper must be carefully considered and debated. 

The ID supports the second option, a ‘Review of current tenure policies and legislation,' involving the ‘Current free-hold title system' and ‘Land ceilings framework linked to categorization of farms.' 

However, it would be wrong to attempt to bring about land redress by simply amending the Constitution due to the Government's own failures of the past 16 years. 

I would like to call on the Minister to ensure that there is a comprehensive rural development programme that can help rural people gain access to all basic services such as roads, electricity, health, quality education, water and sanitation. 

The ID also calls on the Minister to pursue the people that were responsible for the corruption and maladministration at the Land Bank and ensure that from now on the Bank provides proper developmental assistance to farmers.

Now that we have recapitalized the Land Bank, it is crucial that money is directed to small-scale farmers.

Honourable Chairperson, last week I attended a Scopa meeting that looked at the annual report of the Department and there are extremely serious inefficiencies in its administration. 

I would therefore like to say to the Minister that if we are to achieve the objectives outlined by him here today, then there is a need for the Minister to sign a performance agreement with the Director-General and all other senior officials. 

The ID supports the budget. 

I thank you.