Pretoria - Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti has extended the consultations process for the draft Land Tenure Security Bill.
The bill was gazetted late in December last year with a deadline of 24 February. The new deadline for making comments is 18 March.
Nkwinti accepted the request for the extension of the consultation process from different stakeholders such as Free State Agriculture (FSA), non-governmental organisations and members of the public.
The extension of these consultations is to ensure as many stakeholders as possible are afforded an opportunity to give input into the Bill.
The Land Tenure Security Bill is aimed at promoting and protecting the relative rights of persons working on farms, persons residing on farms and farm owners; enhancing the security of tenure of persons residing on farms; creating conditions conducive to peaceful and harmonious relationships on farms and in farming communities and to sustain production discipline on land in the interest of food security.
Several provinces have undertaken the consultations process already following the gazetting of the bill in December. The extension will provide an additional opportunity for more consultations as well as for stakeholders who will still like to submit their comments.
