Deputy Minister calls on Communal Property Associations (CPAs) to assist government by working together to resolve conflicts as department awaits final audit report
THE Bathlabine community which was recently presented with a title deed following the finalisation of their land claim have pledged to enter into a management agreement with the previous landowner to develop the acquired forestry land.
This pledge comes at a time when the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform Communal Property Associations (CPAs) is awaiting a final audit report into the entities which are dogged by reports of widespread mismanagment, infighting and corruption.
CPAs which are entities set up to manage land on behalf of beneficiaries of land restitution and reform communities, were set up under the Communal Properties Act 28 of 1996 “to enable communities to form juristic persons, to be known as communal property associations in order to acquire, hold and manage property on a basis agreed to by members of a community in terms of a written constitution.
Deputy Minister of agriculture, rural development and land reform Mcebisi Skwatsha said during his budget vote speech last month that a 2021 audit into CPAs has been finalised. He said the Department must still receive the report and consider the way forward.
“The sustainability of some projects remains a challenge as a result of the lack of post-settlement support, conflicts and instability within the Communal Property Associations (CPAs),” he said.
Skwatsha noted that currently, more than 1 700 CPAs have been established and registered nationally.
“In the past financial year 2022/2023, we registered eighteen (18) CPAs and over 3 000 Communal Property Associations (CPAs) members received training on governance of these entities to ensure compliance with the Communal Property Associations Act. We will further train 715 executive members on governance of these CPAs in the current financial year,” he said.
http://www.dalrrd.gov.za/images/Newsroom/Speeches/budget-speech-2023-dm-skwatsha.pdf
“CPAs themselves must assist the Department by making sure that they work together and resolve their problems rather than taking each other to Court. More time must be spent on working the land and the business. It must be emphasised that the executive is leading on behalf of the beneficiaries, for all the transactions they do on the land, they must account to the membership. The membership should have a voice on what is happening on their land and not be spectators,” Skwatsha said.
He said a total of 82 761 land claims have been settled to date “and many communities who were previously displaced have received their land with some having opted for financial compensation.”
Skwatsha said in the last financial year, the Commission for Restitution of Land Rights settled 355 land claims and finalised 429 at a cost of about R3 ,9 billion. He said in this financial year 349 claims will be settled and 406 claims will be finalised with a budget of R3.9 bill
Meanwhile the restored Bathlabine property as Portion 3 of the forestry farm Tamara 573 LT measuring 216 hectares (ha) was acquired at a cost of over R3 million and transferred to the Bathlabine community on 15 February 2023.
The land claim was lodged by Kgoshi Sakia Ledikwa Mogoboya on 10 October 1998 on behalf of Batlhabine Tribe in various farms at the fertile Letsitele Valley of the Greater Tzaneen Local Municipality, in the Mopani District, which is renowned for its production of high-value subtropical fruit.
The community previously received 11 farms, measuring 1 730 ha at the cost of R50,3 million to the state, and this community land claim is being settled in phases. The current number of households is 295 and total number of beneficiaries currently stands at 876.
The farms’ previously restored portions produce mangos, bananas, litchis, paw-paws, carambolas (star fruit), citrus, macadamia nuts and avocados.
Minister of agriculture, rural development and land reform Thoko Didiza said during the handover ceremony that government is striving to ensure that all land that was dispossessed from people, be restored back to them.
“This is done easier through the department’s Commission on Restitution of Land Rights programme, which seeks to redress the injustices of the dispossessed communities,” she said.
Didiza encouraged the beneficiaries to take education seriously and ensure that, together with their children, they studied hard and focused on agricultural studies so that they could come back and work on the community farms.
“This will assist to accelerate growth and production for these farms, which government has returned in full title,” Didiza said.
Didiza further pointed out that the title deed is for the beneficiaries and not the executive committee of the Communal Property Association (CPA). The proceeds of the restored farm should benefit all households affected by the removal. -news@mukurukuru.co.za
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