Deputy Speaker, this Land Audit Report has many issues, flags and gaps in information. Of particular concern are the millions of hectares that remain unaccounted for. However, this remains a reasonable starting point, which the department can use as a guide to begin its constructive reform of land ownership patterns and to develop sustainable rural communities.
Land reform in South Africa is still in its infancy. It is a sensitive subject and one we must address cautiously and with full information if we wish to enhance the effectiveness and success of the Land Reform Programme. State failures to account for land must be rectified. We would support calls for an external and independent assessment of land ownership. Such an independent third-party approach would ensure greater credibility.
We have heard many irresponsible statements made on land and land reform. The report should pave a way for government to take active steps in acquiring not only land, but also in ensuring that there is equitable redistribution. Lastly, tenure reform and administration must be done in such a way that it supports local community initiatives when it comes to land usage and give communities the freedom to truly be responsible for their own livelihood. Hon Deputy Speaker ...
... ngifisa ukuveza lokhu noma ukusho lokhu kule Ndlu. Umlando uthi, izwe lathathwa emakhosini nemiphakathi yabo. Baphucwa umhlaba babekwa ezintabeni, ezindaweni eziwugagadu, ezingalimeki abangekwazi ukuthi bangasebenza kuzona baphile. Ngakho-ke masikhuluma ngodaba lo mhlaba kuzofuneka kubukwe, kucatshangisiswe ukuthi leyo miphakathi yamakhosi eyaphucwa umhlaba ononileyo yahlaliswa ezintabeni iyahlinzekelelwa ekutheni inikezwe umhlaba. Lowo mhlaba osetshenziswa ngokwabelana ngumphakathi wonke kunokuthi kukhuthazwe ubunini bomhlaba emntwini ngamunye okuyolimaza isizwe ngakusasa nxa ngabe sithi: bonke abantu kufuneka baphathe amatatiyela ngoba abanye babo abayikukwazi ukugcina umhlaba ezandleni zabo ukuze begcinela izizukulwane kodwa uzogcina uhamba kushintshwana ngawo ngoba kuyobe sekuphethwe izimali. Ngiyabonga. (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)
[... I wish to point this out in this House: History says land was taken away from traditional leaders and their communities. It was forcibly taken away from them and they were relocated to mountains and barren land that they could not cultivate in order to make a living from it. Therefore when we discuss land reform, we should consider that and allocate land to those communities that were dispossessed of their fertile land. That land must be shared by communities, and we should not encourage individual ownership, which would be a disadvantage for the future of the country. No individual title deeds should be issued for fear that some of the owners would not be able to maintain the land for their future generations. They would instead be tempted to sell it to make a profit for themselves. Thank you.]