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On Saturday, May 22, President Cyril Ramaphosa traveled to the north of the country, to Tafelkop, in the Limpopo region, to give 30 black farmers ownership of state land. A very political ceremony before the local elections, planned for the end of the year. The issue of land distribution continues to burn in the country and the promised reforms are taking place very slowly.
as reported from Johannesburg, Claire Bargelès
Even today, almost 3/4 of the country is in the hands of the white community, which represents less than 10% of the population. An injustice as a result of apartheid, and which President Cyril Ramaphosa wants to correct.
“All these large commercial farms, as you see around us here, were built with the support of the apartheid government. Now is the time for us to support our own farmers. ”
This delivery of title deeds is the culmination of a process that began in the 2000s, to facilitate the work of Tafelkop farmers who produce, among other things, tobacco and cotton.
Minister of Public Works, Patricia de Lille, hopes that these titles will enable them to develop. “I heard you explain this morning how the banks’ doors can be closed due to lack of ownership, so I think it will be easier now.”
The government has already redistributed almost 5 million hectares in its possession. But as the President reminds us, other changes are being prepared to go further. “We continue to work to amend Article 25 of the Constitution to allow the expropriation of land without compensation, while ensuring that the agricultural sector continues to develop.”
If approved, this amendment will only apply in certain cases, for example for land abandoned or held for speculative purposes.
We celebrate our progress, for day by day our land reform program is gaining momentum.
To date, the government has redistributed over five million hectares of land, a total of about 5,500 farms, to more than 300,000 beneficiaries.
– Cyril Ramaphosa ?? #StaySafe (@CyrilRamaphosa) May 22, 2021.
