Rural Development and Land Reform Dept Budget Vote 2015/16

 

On 8 May 2015 Deputy Minister Mcebisi Skwatsha presented the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform’s 2015/16 Budget Vote. In his speech he confirmed the Department’s commitment to the goals of the National Development Plan and indicated that accordingly the Department will transfer another 8.9 million hectares of agricultural land by 2030.

“Chapter 6 of the NDP sets a target of transferring 20% of agricultural land to black people by 2030.

20% of the 82 million hectares of agricultural land translates into 16.4 million hectares. From 1994 to December 2014 the state transferred 7.5 million hectares, or 46% of the 16.4m hectares, to black farmers. Of the 7.5 million hectares already transferred, 4.4 million hectares were redistributed land and 3.1 million hectares was restitution in settlement of land claims.

To meet the NDP target we need to transfer another 8.9 million hectares of agricultural land by 2030.”

He went on to give some indication of the hectares acquired to date and also what the target is for the 2015/16 financial year.

“Since 2009, government has acquired 1.76 million hectares of land. For the 2014/15 financial year, the department acquired 209 580 hectares, at a cost of R1.2 billion.

For the current 2015/16 financial year we intend acquiring 208 350 hectares at a cost of R1.253 billion. Of this, R141.19 million will be spent on acquiring land for farm dwellers, and R132.19 million for labour tenants.”

To read Deputy Minister’s full speech go to http://www.gov.za/speeches/budget-policy-speech-deputy-minister-hon-m-skwatsha-8-may-2015-0000; also see http://www.gov.za/speeches/minister-gugile-nkwinti-rural-development-and-land-reform-dept-budget-vote-201516-8-may.

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