By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa lead the hand over by government of land and title deeds to farmers in Tafelkop, in the Groblersdal district of Limpopo.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Presidency said the handover ceremony is the culmination of a land reform process.
The ceremony,takes place on Saturday, will see 30 black farmers being presented with title deeds.
Today the total value of this land is more than R25.5 million. The farmers now have the capacity to produce up to 60 tonnes per farmer per year. This land is currently being used to farm tobacco, cotton and fresh produce, and has great potential for even more farming activities. pic.twitter.com/Rh7qs8hcw3
— Cyril Ramaphosa ?? #StaySafe (@CyrilRamaphosa) May 22, 2021
“The farmers have been successfully farming various agricultural produce for 25 years on this land, and the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has transferred the land on a gratis basis for land redistribution purposes,” the Presidency said.
In 2000, the then national Department of Agriculture entered into lease agreements with the Tafelkop Farmers’ Association, in terms of the Land Redistribution, through the Agricultural Development (LRAD) programme.
“In 2009, the former Limpopo Department of Agriculture (LDA) recommended to the Department of Public Works (as the custodian of the land) that the land be transferred to the farmers, who had been in occupation since 1996.
“The deeds were registered earlier in 2021 in the names of the farmers who will emerge as beneficiaries at this coming weekend’s ceremony,” the Presidency said.
These farmers supply local food stores, school feeding schemes, as well the Pretoria and Johannesburg fresh produce markets.
Today the promise of the #FreedomCharter has come true for this community, that the land shall be shared among those who work it. The handover of these title deeds to the members of the #Tafelkop Farmers Association marks a milestone in a long journey. #OurLandOurHeritage pic.twitter.com/9Av45FkoDJ
— Cyril Ramaphosa ?? #StaySafe (@CyrilRamaphosa) May 22, 2021
The extent of the land now officially registered in the names of the farmers, measures 189 hectares, and is valued at more than R25.5 million.
“This award is part of the ongoing work of the Land Reform Inter-Ministerial Committee to accelerate land reform by mobilising State resources to increase the efficiency and sustainability of land redistribution and restitution,” the Presidency said.
President @CyrilRamaphosa hands over land and title deeds to farmers at Tafelkop in Limpopo #OurLandOurHeritage https://t.co/7PpiqLikwR
— Presidency | South Africa ?? (@PresidencyZA) May 22, 2021
The President is supported by Ministers Patricia De Lille of Public Works and Infrastructure:; Thoko Didiza of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Ronald Lamola of Justice and Correctional Services, and Khumbudzo Ntshaveni, Acting Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.