By OBAKENG MAJE
The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development will be conducting the third leg of nationwide public hearings on the Preservation and Development of Agricultural Land (PDAL) Bill at Mmabana Taung in North West on 21 July 2023.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, land Reform and Rural Development, Zwelivelile Mandlesizwe Dalibhunga Mandela said the committee had successful hearings in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces.
According to Mandela, the North West hearings will take place at Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Ngaka Modiri Molema and Dr Kenneth district municipalities from 21-23 July 2023.
“The PDAL Bill seeks, among other things, to provide that the Sub-division of the Agricultural Land Act (SALA) of 1970 applies to all agricultural land in the country, to provide principles for the management of agricultural land.
“To provide for agricultural land evaluation and classification, to provide for the preparation, purpose and content of provincial agricultural sector plans and to provide for the declaration of protected agricultural areas,” he said.
Mandela said, the Bill further aims to address SALA shortcomings and other identified weaknesses. He added that SALA is currently administered only by the national Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development and, as such, does not conform to the constitutional requirements of cooperative governance where national, provincial and local spheres of government have a role to play.
“Furthermore, SALA is only applicable to privately owned land and thus, the department cannot protect high-value agricultural land owned by the state, statutory bodies, communal land and land administered by traditional authorities.
“An attempt was made in 1998 to repeal the SALA Act of 1970 through the Subdivision of Agricultural Land Repeal Act, 1998 (Act No. 64 of 1998). However, the repeal Act, which was passed by parliament, was assented to by the then-acting president, but not the president. Therefore, it was never promulgated,” said Mandela.
He said the committee is conducting the public hearings to ensure that, the final Bill reflects the views of the people and the affected stakeholders. Mandela said public participation is very important in the development and processing of legislation to ensure that laws that parliament passes are progressive and responsive to the needs of every citizen and do not infringe on their rights.
Details of the public hearings programme in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District are as follows:
Date: Friday, 21 July
Time: 10:00 – 14:00
Venue: Mmabana Arts Culture and Sports Foundation, Taung
Details of the public hearings programme in Ngaka Modiri Molema District are as follows:
Date: Saturday, 22 July
Time: 10:00 – 14:00
Venue: Lonely Park Multipurpose Centre, Mahikeng
Details of the public hearings programme in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District are as follows:
Date: Sunday, 23 July
Time: 10:00 – 14:00
Venue: Ballroom Hall, Klerksdorp
The Guardian 