South Africa: Minister John Steenhuisen welcomes signing of Preservation and Development of Agricultural Land Bill into law

Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen welcomes the signing of the Preservation and Development of Agricultural Land Bill into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa that will support long-term food production and support the Department’s goal of creating more jobs and growing the economy.

Since the 2000’s there has been various attempts to develop legislation to replace the Subdivision of Agricultural Land Act (SALA) of 1970 (Act no. 70 of 1970), as valuable agricultural land was being lost at an alarming rate for residential and mining purposes.

It is estimated that less than 13% of South Africa’s 122 million hectares of land is high potential agriculture land.  Minister Steenhuisen highlighted that improving food security is one of the Department of Agriculture’s seven strategic priorities. “We want to create an environment for agriculture to prosper and to ensure the sector creates much needed jobs and food security. The ability to protect and preserve high potential agriculture land for this purpose is one of the essential tools to achieve this goal.”

An advisory committee that will consist of not more than ten members, will be established to advise on the achieving the objects of this Act, and any other matter concerning the preservation and sustainable development of agricultural land.

The legislation further recognizes the need for a national regulatory framework to coordinate the preservation and development of agricultural land in a proactive manner, and to prevent the fragmentation of agricultural land, to minimise the loss of agricultural land, to promote viable farming units and to encourage the optimal use of agricultural land and to provide for food security.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development: Republic of South Africa.