THERE were scenes of jubilation as President Cyril Ramaphosa handed over land and title deeds to 30 black farmers Tafelkop in the Groblersdal district of Limpopo.
The hand over is part of the government’s Land Redistribution Programme.
Addressing the Tafelkop Farmers Association, Ramaphosa said farmers needs support and that the handover of these title deeds to the members of the Tafelkop Farmers Association marked a milestone in a long journey.
The Tafelkop community has spent over 25 years fighting to receive title deeds.
“This for me confirms the approach and the policy that we have taken to give the land back to our people, put people can work the land. This notion that they must be regarded as emerging farmers is a fable,” said Ramaphosa.
“This land is currently being used to farm tobacco, cotton and fresh produce, and has great potential for even more farming activities.”
A total of 32 households are supported by this land, and farming activities provide employment to 128 permanent workers and up to 320 seasonal workers.
The local farmers supply their produces to local food stores, school feeding schemes as well the Pretoria and Johannesburg fresh produce markets
To date, government has redistributed over five million hectares of land, totalling around 5 500 farms, to more than 300 000 beneficiaries.
So far, the land restitution process has benefited over two million land claimants and resulted in the transfer of around 2.7 million hectares.
“Land reform isn’t just in the interests of redress, justice and social cohesion. It is also about economic development,” said Ramaphosa.
“Agriculture and the agriculture value chain can and must transform rural economies. Through the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan we are developing the agricultural sector, and making it more inclusive so that it can play an even greater role in driving inclusive growth.”
Ramaphosa was accompanied by Ministers of Public Works and Infrastructure Patricia de Lille, Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Thoko Didiza, officials from the Justice and Correctional Services as well as Acting Minister in The Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Khumbudzo Ntshavheni.
- Inside Metros