NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 1901
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER [No 24-2009]
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 23 October 2009
1901. Mr M M Swathe (DA) to ask the Minister of Rural Development and Land
Reform:
Whether there are any plans in place to assist farmers who are not coping,
who received farms through the land restitution; if not, why not; if so,
what plans? NW2464E
THE MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LAND REFORM:
Yes.
The following plans have been put in place:
- In cases where land has been restored, farmers are financially
supported through Restitution Settlement Grants (RSG) and section 42C
Development Grants. These grants are used for planning, infrastructure
development, training and purchasing of implements;
- arrangements are in place with the Department of Agriculture, Forestry
and Fisheries to provide assistance to farmers in respect of planning,
extension services, mentoring and funding through their respective
programmes;
- sector-specific interventions have been established to assist farmers
for instance in the forestry and sugar industry;
- the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights has entered into an
agreement with AgriSETA to develop a capacity building framework for
farmers;
- a dispute resolution procedure has been implemented to assist with the
resolution of disputes that hamper the progress of activities within
communities; and
- a panel of transaction advisors is available to provide expert advice
on decisions relating to business transactions.