The land reform program in South Africa.
It is said that the efficient retribution of land can help to change the livelihood of millions of South Africans, by alleviating poverty, creating jobs and improving food security. The department of rural development continues to redistribute land through it's strategic Land Reform Program.
Through this program it is gradually transforming the structure and form of the country's industry by producing black commercial farmers with sustainable enterprise, thus contributing to the objective of sustainable land reform.
The Africa Joy farm is located in the Northern Cape and is a growing black owned commercial farm, which is 1184 hectares in extent and consists irrigation land as well as land for grazing. The farm owns 103 hectares of water rights and has 3 holding dams as well as pump houses. The farm was purchased in 2008 and is currently farmed with lucerne, wheat, maize and sheep.
Keith and Jacqui Middleton, the beneficiary couple have a genuine love for farming hence the reason why they sought to ensure the investment by the department in purchasing the property does not go to waste. They expressed the often heard of and seen of land lying fallow after being handed over to the beneficiaries in certain instances, but they wanted to be among the examples of successful land
reform farmers.
Further support was provided by the department in 2012 in the form of funds through the recapitalization program. This enabled the farm to grow and create work for members of the community. The Africa Job farm has become a commercial farming enterprise that has established a firm footing in the farming sector of this area.
The program sounds perfect and easy to execute, being an answer to the land reform program and joblessness that the country is facing. However, the government has added as part of the constitution, land-grabbing without Compensation. This is an impossible situation which will give way to increased criminality and anarchy.
Sources : Newspaper by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform.
