Deputy Chairperson of the House, thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to read this short report, the report of the Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs on the Annual Report for 2008-09 of the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights.
On 11 August 2009, the Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs met with the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights to discuss its annual report and financial statement for 2008-09. The commission presented the select committee with the following: the strategic objectives of the purpose of the restitution, complex claims, the business process for strategic partnerships, the business process for support for struggling projects, finalisation of outstanding claims, challenges and strategies, and the budget breakdown for the years 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13.
In the review of the annual report of the commission, the Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs engaged the commission on the two main issues that were highlighted by the Auditor-General. These included the high vacancy rate in the Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal offices and parcels of land that were not yet identified by the Department of Public Works as state assets. The committee was briefed on the strategies in place in addressing these issues.
It also requested the commission to forward its staff retention strategy and the impact on land claims. The main challenges of the commission included a lack of funding for the outstanding complex claims, which included claims on commercial farms and protected areas, and the lack of staff in some offices to assist with complex claims.
The committee resolved that the commission should within 14 days forward to the committee a report with a breakdown of the 200 struggling projects per province and the amounts of funds allocated to the projects. The commission should forward a report on its human resource retention strategy to the committee.
The select committee therefore commends the resolution contained in the report as considered for adoption by the House. Thank you. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Report be adopted.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
Report accordingly adopted in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.