POLICIES - Land affairs

The ACDP respects the right of all citizens to own property.
The ACDP policy on land affairs would address the problem issues of land imbalances, land restitution and land usage. Equitable principles must be applied to support by the right of all citizens to have access to property ownership.
The ACDP will address the wrongs of the past based on the biblical principles of restitution and restoration.
The ACDP supports the following policy on Land Affairs:
• All South Africans must enjoy security of tenure as well as the freedom to acquire, utilize, rent and sell property, including land.
• When superfluous State land is not directly utilized, such land should be allocated for the residential needs of communities that have been historically disadvantaged.
• Ownership of tribal or trust land must be negotiated with the traditional authority and the community so that ways can be found to extend land ownership for the benefit of everyone connected to the land.
• Land restitution is the process whereby land illegally dispossessed is compensated for or restored to a previous owner guided by principles such as equitable restitution, mutual consent and benefits.
• Land claims courts are to address issues such as property, which was unfairly acquired.
• Redistribution of land will be made available either through rent or purchase, for the purpose of sustainable development.
• The rural poor, labour tenants and entrepreneurial farm workers will have opportunity to access such land through a system facilitated by government's own land assets and that of other landowners.
• There is a large backlog of land restitution and reallocation cases that have to be heard by the courts. The issues are complex and require in depth examination in order for justice to be served. The ACDP will investigate forms of general "out of court settlements" which will allow people to access land immediately without waiting many years for their cases to be heard.
• We will also take into consideration that to make effective and productive use of reallocated land, communities must have access to finance and other resources
• With regards to the land tenure and security of tenure, the right of the farm workers must be protected.
• The involvement of farm workers and farm owners in drawing up legislative protection on how land tenure can be equitably applied will be ensured, however, to a foundational principle.
• Unlawful land occupation is unacceptable, and as such the availability and usage of land will enjoy high priority. Squatting is a symptom of previous land affairs practices. Squatters will not be accommodated, however the problem will be dealt with humanely and efficiently whilst the cause is addressed.
• Whilst addressing these issues the ACDP will not lose sight of the necessity of maintaining a dynamic agricultural sector, therefore welfare and efficiency objectives must be reconciled.

http://www.acdp.org.za/index.php?page=policy13

ISSUES IN FOCUS - Land

Making land redistribution work

South Africans, both black and white, are passionate about the issue of land ownership and the importance of finding sensible and timely solutions to problems surrounding land redistribution and reform cannot be underestimated.

At the end of 2002, more than 36 000 land claims were settled, benefiting 437 000 claimants. However with less than 2% of land having changed hands from white to black owners, the government falls far short of its goal to redistribute a third of white owned agricultural land by 2015.

While the ACDP supports the department of land affairs in its endeavours to find fair and reasonable solutions to issues surrounding land restitution, the powers given to the minister of agriculture and land affairs by the Restitution of Land Rights Amendment Bill to expropriate land for restitution are a cause for concern. The cooperation of farmers is essential to land reform and this heavy-handed approach does not auger well for a united and productive South Africa. Instead, creating opportunities and support for emerging farmers, while also valuing efforts of existing commercial farmers will ensure wealth creation and not a poverty trap for all.

The truth is that land reform targets will only be met if increased funds are made available. R1.7 billion per annum will be needed for land transfer payments alone, which is the full annual Land Affairs budget and the treasury urgently needs to reassess the allocation for land reform in light of the necessary targets set and the progress to date.

South Africa needs to focus not simply on acquiring farms and making them available, but determining how the land should be used. We need to discern the difference between the need people have for homes from the need emergent farmers have for farms. The majority of people simply need to take ownership of homes with water, sanitation, education and other services important to supporting and developing strong, healthy families. In the nature of things, these services exist in towns and cities.

Emergent farmers need technical and marketing assistance, irrigation schemes and agricultural skills along with security of tenure and ownership of land, and the long-awaited draft Communal Land Bill will address urgent land tenure problems in the fertile 'homeland' areas. Conditional subsidies should also be considered while South Africa waits for other countries to level the playing fields.

South Africa is one of seven net food exporters in the world in spite of shallow soil and low rainfall, due to the tremendous skills accumulated, agriculturally and industrially. This major source of foreign exchange is an asset, which should be valued and protected.
http://www.acdp.org.za/index.php?page=issue6