Honourable House Chairperson,
The ACDP, in acknowledging the Budgetary Review and Recommendation Report of the Portfolio Committee on Land Reform and Rural Development, remains committed to a just and transparent land reform process—one that uplifts all communities—rural in particular—without undermining food security or constitutional rights.
The ACDP notes the Department’s Umhlaba newsletter celebrating inspiring stories of female farmers in Limpopo who received land as a lifeline. We celebrate with these female farmers. We also note that concurrently, media and committee briefings have also underscored delays in equitable access legislation and tenure security.
The ACDP has consistently cautioned against corruption and inefficiency in land redistribution programmes, echoing public concerns raised in social media debates about stalled projects and inadequate support for new farmers.
As Kingdom builders, the ACDP is on record for stating that expropriation without compensation is not the panacea to the land question. Equitable land redistribution in keeping with the Constitution, coupled with the security of tenure, strong ethical government oversight, with women-and-land and youth-land empowerment initiatives augmented by skills transfer, and working with those of all colours who have the skill in the agricultural economy, is the ACDP’s preferred path.
Thank you.
