Parliament, Wednesday, 8 March 2017 – The Portfolio Committee on Rural Development and Land Reform today deliberated on the Extension of Security of Tenure Amendment Bill and the establishment of the Land Rights Management Board. The Board shall advise the Minister and the Director-General on tenure security matters in respect of commercial farming areas, rural freehold and communal areas; and guide and oversee the Land Rights Management Committees in the execution of their functions in terms of this Act.
The Committee deliberated about the status of the Board, whether it is an advisory or an executive one. Further legal advice was sought regarding possible overlap of functions of the Board and the Department.
The members of the Committee agreed that the composition of the Board shall be a minimum of seven members with a maximum of nine members, which includes the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson. The term of office for members of the Board shall be four years.
The Chairperson, Ms Phumuzile Ngwenya-Mabila said that the Committee cannot proceed further until the legal team, comprising both the Department and the State, advises on the functions of the Board vis-à-vis the Land Rights Management Committees and the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform to avoid duplication.
The Committee will resume next week to consider the revision on the functions of the Board and consideration of the A and B version of Extension of Security of Tenure Amendment Bill.
ISSUED BY PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF MS PHUMZILE NGWENYA-MABILA, CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LAND REFORM
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Name: Sureshinee Govender
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E-mail: sugovender@parliament.gov.za
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