Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has signed into law the Spatial and Land Use Management Act, which seeks to bridge the racial divide in spatial terms and to transform the settlement patterns of the country.
In a statement on Monday, the Presidency said Zuma has signed into law the bill which will address the legacy of the discriminatory, inefficient and costly special pattern that puts a considerable burden on the public resources.
The act will also ensure that the restructuring of South African cities, towns and settlements is in line with the priorities and principles of the democratic government.
“The act seeks to bridge the racial divide in spatial terms and to transform the settlement patterns of the country in a manner that gives effect to the key constitutional provisions,” said the Presidency.
The objectives of the act are to:
- Provide for a uniform, effective and comprehensive system of spatial planning and land use management of the Republic;
- Ensure that the system of spatial planning and land use management promotes social and economic inclusion;
- Provide for development principles and norms and standards;
- Provide the sustainable and efficient use of land;
- Provide for the cooperative government and intergovernmental relations amongst the national, provincial and local spheres of government; and
- Redress the imbalances of the past and ensure that there is equity in the application of spatial development planning and land use management.
Co-operative Amendment Act approved
President Zuma also assented to the Co-operative Amendment Act 6 of 2013.
This is an amendment to The Co-operatives Act 14 of 2005, which came into effect on 2 May 2007.
This act provides for the establishment, functions and powers of the Co-operatives Development Agency. Amongst others, the amendment provides for associate membership of the co-operatives, the annual submission of information to the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), categories of primary co-operatives and the national apex co-operatives.
Besides providing for the establishment, composition and functions of the Co-operative Tribunal, the act provides for a co-operative to apply for a declaratory order in respect of the liquidation process, and for the registrar of the tribunal to order the winding-up of a co-operative.
The legislation amends the accounting practices by providing for the audit and independent review of co-operatives, the payment of fees by the co-operative for the amalgamation, division and conservation, including the transfer of co-operatives.
The Co-operative Amendment Act states that the provincial departments of Economic Development, under which co-operatives in South Africa fall, will be responsible for the co-ordinating and reporting of all co-operative activities in the provinces involving other departments and stakeholders, while the municipalities will be responsible for the co-ordinating activities within their area of jurisdiction.
International Day of Co-Operatives was celebrated at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban last month.
In 1995, the United Nations resolved to celebrate International Day of Co-Operatives to recognise the role that cooperatives play in social and economic development and in creating a conducive environment for the development of this form of business. – SAnews.gov.za
