Parliament, Tuesday, 22 August 2017 – The Portfolio Committee on Rural Development and Land Reform this week met with the communities of Vryheid and Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal on the Communal Property Associations (CPAs) Amendment Bill. The CPAs Act was passed in 1996 and has been implemented over the past 20 years. There have been some challenges with the implementation of the act, however.
In order for a Bill to be passed, there must be extensive public engagements and the Committee has held 10 public hearings thus far. The Committee is pleased with the inputs received on the Bill, but concerned by a number of complaints from communities about mistreatment they received at the hands of departmental officials at satellite and regional offices.
The public hearings brought to the fore various challenges within CPAs, namely CPA executives who are not accountable to members, CPA elections not taking place, a lack of reporting to members and allegations of corruption.
“Engagements at public hearings allow Committee members the opportunity to hear the experiences of people living and working on farms and we cannot ignore their plight,” said the Committee Chairperson, Ms Phumuzile Ngwenya- Mabila. “While we receive inputs to strengthen the Bill, we must also address these complaints and ensure that we make life better for our people,” she said.
Some of the issues raised can be addressed by strengthening the capacity of the department to support the CPAs, especially through the proposed CPA office. The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform must address these complaints and submit a report to the Committee within 30 days.
ISSUED BY PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LAND REFORM, MS PHUMUZILE NGWENYA-MABILA
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact:
Name: Sureshinee Govender
Parliamentary Communication Services
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E-mail: sugovender@parliament.gov.za
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