Government is planning to release over 100 pockets of land that have been identified by the Department of Rural Development, says Communications Minister Nomvula Mokonyane.
Addressing the media on Tuesday on the Cabinet Lekgotla discussions, the Minister said government sees the land expropriation intervention as part of growing and transforming the economy.
“One of the critical things that we know is that historically, there can never be any prosperity in the agricultural sector without government providing farmer support such as extension officers, fencing, water certainty, access to finance and access to markets.
“That is critical so that when we our people own agricultural land, we should not be burdened with having to look for support because we know that any prosperous agricultural programme relies on a very effective agricultural support programme that looks at food security,” Mokonyane said.
The Minister said the crux of the lekgotla discussions is taking action and implementing all outstanding decisions; ensuring that South Africa has a stimulus package that will ignite the economy to grow, primarily focusing on the inclusion of women and young people, as well creating an enabling environment around investment in South Africa.
“For the full day today, we will be discussing the economy. Of importance is that there is determination not to reinvent the wheel but to have a stimulus package that deals with… agricultural support, food security as well as productivity in the agricultural sector and the skills pipeline.”
The meeting, Mokonyane said, will also deal with crime prevention, focusing on crimes against women, children and vulnerable groups in a manner that will respond to the national outcry.
Mokonyane said the meeting also reflected on the recent fuel price increases, with a presentation by the Finance Minister.
“[These are some of] the realities about the global factors that impact highly on South Africa because of our dependency on oil and gas coming from abroad.
“One of critical things that we are dealing with is building our own infrastructure, such as the [PetroSA] refinery and ensuring that we have an integrated transport system and have a single regulator so that we ease the burden on the ordinary South African,” she said.
Cabinet is currently holding its lekgotla at Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse in Tshwane. – SAnews.gov.za
