Jaaka go kgatlhile lekgotla leno motlotlegi.
English:
Hon Deputy Minister, the sector is also competing with informal settlements which are mushrooming all over. In most cases, on agricultural land at local government level, informal settlements have taken over land for livestock grazing and food production. What is the department doing to protect and preserve agricultural land at local government level? Thank you.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, LAND REFORM AND RURAL
DEVELOPMENT: One good intervention in that regard that can help us a lot is local municipalities passing by laws which would need to be enforced. Lack of enforcement can cause the challenges that the hon member has identified. Also, the effective implementation of the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act, SPLUMA, will lessen
such a challenge. We believe and affirm that agricultural land must be used for agricultural purposes and not for township establishment.
There is a need for strengthening public awareness on existing bylaws, SPLUMA and food security, so that people understand where an area should be zoned for agriculture and where human settlement can be allowed.
In this regard, you would recall that our department had land reform district committees which involved various sectors in the local municipality and this also goes a long way in ensuring the effective allocation of land use. This is also why we think that the initiative by our President on the district development model; is an initiative that assists very much because it also speaks into the realignment and the working together of different spheres of government. I thank you.