However, land redistribution must be accelerated within an amended law. I am calling for the law to be amended to give rights to poor people, instead of its protecting the propertied people. We note that all potential Bills coming to Parliament do not as yet contain this correction.
We further ask you, hon Minister, to introduce an amendment of the prohibition of the subdivision of agricultural land so that it can be distributed among smallholders. You should remember that by law agricultural land is not supposed to be subdivided. Smallholders cannot just farm on vast tracts of land - they must be subdivided.
We further call upon you, Minister, to amend the Extension of Security of Tenure Act, Esta, which prescribes that farm workers who have 60 years of experience on the job can only be allowed to live on that farm for a further one year, after which they must go to look for alternative accommodation.
The same law provides that if the spouse who used to work on that farm dies, the woman and her children must trek [move]. It should definitely be amended.
We support this budget on the basis that it will facilitate the release of the natives from the overcrowded reserves, the Bantustans, so that they can come into the greater South Africa. Black people must occupy the rest of South Africa, not only Bantustan areas. [Applause.]
We further support the budget on the basis that more funds are made available in order to settle families who are beneficiaries of land reform, with adequate inputs for them to farm and send their children to schools and clinics. These are also to build houses for them and provide roads, water, electricity and sanitation.