5. The committee took cognisance of the background and context of under which the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform has been operating and would continue to operate. Post 2009 national elections, the new administration established the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. It incorporated mandate of the old Department of Land Affairs and necessitated that it undergo a restructuring process in order to ensure that it can deliver successfully on its new mandate. Rural development and land reform portfolio, particularly the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP) is a strategic priority with the government's Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF). Nine months after its establishment, the Department has made certain strides with regard to integrated programme for rural development through the CRDP and those will be reflected elsewhere in this report.