Speed up land reform - Zuma

2008-10-14 22:14

Johannesburg - South Africa must intensify efforts to transfer farmland to blacks if it is to end crippling poverty among rural communities, ANC leader Jacob Zuma said on Tuesday.

After the fall of apartheid in 1994, the African National Congress-led government set itself a target of handing 30% of all agricultural land to the black majority by 2014.

So far, however, it has only acquired 4% of land from private owners for redistribution, and says it needs to accelerate the process. Thousands of poor blacks are still waiting for farms promised to them by the government.

"We would not be transforming our country if we do not end the marginalisation of rural areas. That is why we will work to intensify our land reform programme," Zuma said in a speech at a metal workers union conference.

Zuma said the land reform programme should be expanded beyond simply handing land to blacks, to include the development of rural areas.

"Land acquisition should be linked to clear rural development programmes, which will include infrastructure development to produce thriving rural economies and ensure sustainable development," Zuma said.

The ANC president has previously criticised South Africa's land reform programme for failing to curb rural poverty.

While there have been a few stories of successful black farmers, agriculture industry officials say many are given insufficient training, which hurts output when they are left in charge of once-productive land.

- Reuters