Parliament, Sunday, 22 October 2017 – The Portfolio Committee on Rural Development and Land Reform has urged the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform to pursue disciplinary processes against some officials who are alleged to be involved in cases of fraud and corruption in Ermelo and Piet Retief.
Beneficiaries of the department’s programmes raised concerns and allegations against three identified officials in the Ermelo and Piet Retief Offices. The officials are alleged to be personally benefitting by leasing land bought for land reform purposes. The Provincial Head of the Department Rural Development and Land Reform informed the Committee that although disciplinary hearings were instituted, two officials had resigned while another passed away. The Committee highlighted that the resignation of these two officials must not stop the department from completing the investigations. The allegations were made during public hearings into the Communal Property Associations (CPAs) Amendment Bill in Mpumalanga.
“We are against any form of corruption and the law must take its course. We encourage the department to be resolute in pursuit of these officials. It is unacceptable that officials are benefiting from projects that are intended to benefit the people, mostly the poor,” said Ms Phumuzile Ngwenya-Mabila the Chairperson of the Committee.
The challenge of backlog in issuing title deeds to beneficiaries by the department was highlighted as an area of concern that need urgent attention from the department.
The Committee further highlighted its concern on the attitude of officials of the department especially in servicing beneficiaries. “The Committee reiterates its stance that government officials must do all they can to assist the public, which includes regular information sharing of progress in relation to their claims. It is unacceptable that people are left unapprised of developments regarding their claims,” said Ms Ngwenya Mabila.
Similar to other provinces, the Committee noted with concern challenges highlighted by various CPAs in relation to operation and support given by the department and other spheres of government. The Committee remains of the view that projects must receive assistance from all spheres of government in order to be sustainable and successful.
The Committee is concerned that there remains cases of illegal evictions and general maltreatment of farm workers in and around Ermelo area. As a remedy, the Committee has reiterated that the department must strengthen the Land Rights Management Facility, and must strengthen the monitoring to ensure that the programme executes the mandate adequately. “The Committee finds it odd that the entire Gert Sibande District has only 1 person with the capacity, through education and experience, to deal with this challenge.
The Committee has urged the department to strengthen the facility to ensure that evictions are minimised. The Committee is hopeful that the establishment of the Registrar of Communal Property Associations which will hopefully intervene in disputes between CPA beneficiaries and the executive. Despite this, the Committee has encouraged beneficiaries to keep their land and use it to farm to benefit communities for generations to come.
There continues to be numerous concerns raised by communities across the country with regards to delays in settlement of land claims that have been lodged before the 1998 cut-off dates. The Committee has urged the department to continuously update communities about progress in relations to their claims to minimise frustrations within communities.
The Committee assured the public of its commitment to look into the allegations of corruption by departmental officials to ensure that proper disciplinary procedures are implemented.
ISSUED BY PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LAND REFORM, MS PHUMUZILE NGWENYA-MABILA.
Media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson please contact:
Name: Mr Malatswa Molepo (Mr)
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E-mail: mmolepo@parliament.gov.za
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