This is according to Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister, Thoko Didiza. She appeared before Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development. Didiza said only farms which were under the South African Development Trust have been released. OFM News’ Cathy Dlodlo reports that the process to match applications for farmland and the available farms is now in full swing.

The department indicated during the sitting that all these farms from the Development Trusts have been captured and listed on an electronic management system. 

So far, the department received a total of 43 997 applications for the 700 000 hectares of farmland, which comprises 627 farms countrywide. The land rights enquiry – that was also launched as part of this programme – has been completed in almost all provinces. 

Didiza said the only two provinces still outstanding is North West and Mpumalanga. A total of 246 farms were captured in North West, but 150 farms are still outstanding. Only 33 farms have been processed in Mpumalanga.

OFM News