R5bn needed for land claims

2004-10-14 15:24

Gert Coetzee

Cape Town - If the government wants to settle the remaining estimated 25 000 land claims in terms of presidential order by the end of 2005, R5bn will have to come from somewhere.

During the land affairs department's presentation of its annual report, the parliamentary portfolio committee also learnt that 26 000 applications from farmworkers for residential rights also could not be settled despite a "heartfelt plea to the national treasury for more money".

It was also confirmed that the transfer of 30% of South African agricultural land for Agri-BEE (black empowerment in agriculture) by 2015 affected only "white commercial agricultural" and not communal land.

Department head Gillingwe Mayende said the transfer of state land, development with land restitution and the ratification of four land-reform laws (from a projected five) during 2003-'04 showed the department was working in high gear despite a staff shortage of 37% (roughly on par with other departments).

Giving them grey hair, sleepless nights

He was concerned the pressure of President Thabo Mbeki's deadline for the settlement of land claims would have a negative affect on the quality of work.

"The chief financial officer, in particular, and I are now exposed to risks that give us grey hair and sleepless nights."

"Claims may be awarded that don't deserve it, or too much may be paid out for land," he said.

Public expectation and a staff shortage contribute to the pressure.

At least the 280 appointments the department made this year brought some relief, he said.

Responding to a question from Maans Nel of the Democratic Alliance, Daphne Matloa, chief director: restitution, said a total of R13bn would be needed to settle the remaining land claims by the end of 2005.

A total of R8bn has been made available in terms of the medium-term budget framework. They are short of an additional R5bn.

Figure has grown to about 55 000

The settlement of land claims would be tackled in two phases.

The quick urban claims, which constituted about 80% of the remaining claims, would be settled first, before the land claims commission focused on complex rural claims.

A total of 48 l;825 claims were settled by the end of March this year, but the figure has now grown to about 55 000 (of the initial 79 696).

The department's target is to have only 17 383 claims (14 349 urban and 3 034 rural) left for 2004-05.

- Beeld