Land matters and rural development: 2011

Abstract

In this note on land, the most important measures and court decisions pertaining to restitution, land redistribution, land reform, housing, land use planning, deeds, sectional titles, agriculture and rural development are discussed. Emphasis on the promotion of Black farmers, especially in the commercial sense, has led the Land Bank to state that, in light of the importance of food production and a successful land reform programme, it is essential that Black farmers be scrutinised before land is transferred to them (Duvenhage ‘Keur swart boere eers, vra Landbank’ Sake Rapport (2011-07-24) 1). In the same context the Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform (MRDLR) has announced that the departure of commercial farmers to other African countries is not a threat to food security in South Africa (Anon ‘Departing farmers not a threat: Minister’ BusinessDay (2011-05-03) 3). It is crucial that production and commercial enterprise continue after land has been transferred under the land reform programme, and the importance of this was reiterated by Minister Nkwinti when he announced earlier this year that all land claims had to be finalised within the next three years (Rademeyer ‘Oordrag “misluk as plase onbewerk bly”’ Burger (2011-05-09) 2). The publication of the Green Paper on Land Reform (GG 34607, 2011-09-16, GN 639) was met with a variety of comments and criticism (see eg Stewart ‘Groenskrif op Grondhervorming: ’n Saak van swart en wit’ Burger (2011-11-02) 13).