Picture: The delegates during the public hearing of Agricultural Bill at Mmabana Taung/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
Some of the residents in Taung raised various concerns about the Preservation and Development of Agricultural Land (PDAL) Bill. The Parliament conducted a public hearing at Mmabana Taung on Friday.
One of the residents, Aobakwe Gaobuse from Bosele Primary Cooperative said, even though they are in support of the Bill, they have concerns regarding what he referred to as a ‘silence’ in Chapter 4. Gaobuse also calls on the North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to give them the necessary support as small-scale farmers.
“We support the Bill, but there are concerns. Firstly, the North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has neglected this sector and failed us dismally. If you can go around Taung, you will see that, the majority of the land is not cultivated.
“In the end, people will evade that land and this will severely affect the economy of Taung. Remember, the economy of Taung relies heavily on agriculture. So, we need to be cautious of that and we do not get any assistance from the government as small-scale farmers,” he said.
Gaobuse further said the sector is marred with many challenges and instead of the government resolving the, government officials contribute to aggravating them.
Another farmer, Freddy Letlhogela urged the government to establish an advisory committee to advise on the achievement of the objectives of the Act, among other things. Letlhogela added that Chapter 4 stipulates that “The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, establish an advisory committee to advise the Minister, on request or of its own accord, on—achieving the objects of this Act; and any other matter concerning the preservation and sustainable development of agricultural land.
He added that the Bill is silent on what would prompt the Minister to establish such a committee or under what circumstances may a request be made.
“We need expert advice regarding agricultural land, its use, and activities are very critical. Therefore, establishing an advisory committee ought to be mandatory and cannot be left as something that may happen at an uncertain occasion in the future.
“The advisory committee should also be given a clear scope which will, among other things, promote the use of land for its intended purposes even at the provincial level. We are burdened as farmers in Taung and afraid, of how are we going to protect the land because people might invade them. We support this bill and hope it will bring intervention in our challenges,” he said.
Letlhogela said, for example, the government built them a stall, and people took it before it could be completed. He said, when one comes from Vryburg to Pudimoe, there are farms that need to be ventilated.
Meanwhile, the acting Chairperson of the committee, Busisiwe Tshwete said: “The meeting was fruitful, informative, and very critical on certain issues. We would like to thank the people of Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District for their input.
“The committee has noted that, most of them supported the Bill and some raised concerns. However, we assure the residents and all the participants that, the committee will take into consideration all their submissions.
Tshwete said after they have reached all the provinces and captured all the views that will be expressed by South Africans on the Bill, the committee will consider them and write a report that will be submitted to the National Assembly for its consideration.
The Guardian 