SPEECH BY THE MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LAND
REFORM,
MR G NKWINTI, (MP)
OPENING ADDRESS AT THE RECAPITALISATION AND DEVELOPMENT
EVALUATION WORKSHOP
BIRCHWOOD CONFERENCE CENTRE
JOHANNESBURG
17 AUGUST 2012
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Programme Director
Honourable MECs
Members of Parliament
Directors-General
Heads of Department
Senior Managers
Organised Agriculture
Ladies and Gentlemen
I extend a special welcome to the farmers present today, and thank them for
accepting our invitation to attend this very important workshop. I am aware
that some of you have had to travel long distances to be here, and have to
spend time away from your family and farms, we thank you for taking the time
out to be here.
We have together, in numerous similar forums made a commitment to our
country to ensure food security for all, our commitment must remain
steadfast.
We further committed to the principles of the Green Paper on Land Reform,
namely:
 deracialisation of the rural economy for shared and sustained growth;
 democratic and equitable land allocation and use across gender,
race and class; and,
 strict production discipline for guaranteed national food security.
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My address today is premised on these principles, and should be foremost on
our minds as we deliberate today; deliberations which will result in a
trajectory that will carve the way ahead in terms the Recapitalisation and
Development Programme (Recap).
The primacy of food sovereignty and security undergirds the establishment of
Recap. It is targeting all people who, since 1994, received land from
government,
Redistribution,
through
as
programs
well
as
broadly
persons
defined
from
as
historically
Restitution
and
disadvantaged
communities who might have bought farms through their own means, but
could be deserving of support.
Ladies and gentlemen, let me share with you an sms with, that I sent to a
farmer regarding the signing of a contract:
I quote:
Dear Sir,
“ Nkwinti here. You have to sign the contract. That is what constitutes a
binding performance relationship between you and the drdlr. What has
been put on hold, and continues to be put on hold, which is what I
addressed with you and other farmers, is rental payment. Rental
payment is linked to the strategic support which the drdlr is rendering to
farmers under Recap. That is why you must sign the contract. The
Recap is a five-year support programme per farmer or group of farmers.
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At the end of five years of each contract, a comprehensive assessment
of the farmer's, or group of farmers', performance will be conducted. If
the farmer, or group of farmers, would have failed to comply with the
contract, then,
i) if the contract is based on PLAS, the 'use-it-or-lose-it' principle kicks
in, and the farm is taken back by the drdlr, and redistributed to other
deserving, able and committed people;
ii)
if the farmer, or group of farmers, would have performed well on the
contract and programme, and the contract is based on PLAS,
arrangements for rental payment kick in; but,
iii) if the contract is not based on PLAS, and there is no compliance with
the contract, and there is poor or no performance at all, despite the
Recap support, contract is discontinued, and no further drdlr
interventions will take place. That is why you must sign the contract.”
Ladies and gentleman, following on what I just said, I wish to describe to
you the recapitalization model as is depicted on the screen. This model is
in essence how the recapitalization programme is structured, and it is
imperative that we all understand this model, both farmers, strategic
partners, mentors and officials. I have requested the officials to ensure that
all of you receive a copy thereof.
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ESTABLISHING A RURAL CO-OPERATIVES FINANCING FACILITY:
Ladies and Gentleman, the Department of Rural Development and Land
Reforms’ Comprehensive Rural Development Prrogramme has three
phases for rural development:
a) Meeting basic human needs;
b) Rural enterprise development; and,
c) Rural industries, sustained by credit facilities and local markets.
The Green Paper on Rural Development proposes a Rural Development
Agency, anchored by a Rural Co-operatives Bank. The latter proposal is
driven by the DRDLR's progress on three fronts, which need socialized
financial resourcing and servicing, namely:
• Re-cap Farmers;
• Rural and small town women and youth crafters; and,
• the National Rural Youth Service Corps (the NARYSEC).
•
The thinking in the DRDLR is as follows:
I.
that the DRDLR will deposit 70% of an agreed upon Seed
Fund for Rural Cooperative Financing Facility;
II.
that participants in the three programmes take up shares to
make up the remaining 30%, progressing to 50% over a
period of five years, and 100% in 10 years;
III.
that the DRDLR will use Rural Cooperative Financing Facility
to deposit all funds for the three Programmes; and,
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IV.
that it would be compulsory for participants in the three
Programmes to use Rural Cooperative Financing Facility for
borrowing, lending, investments and savings.
V.
This proposal is considered very progressive in that it would
usher in great possibilities for wealth creation and ownership
by rural producers of goods and services; and, it would
create a strategic basis for sustainable development of the
rural economy.
Conclusion:
Ladies and gentleman, in conclusion we must address the following:
i)
We need to streamline the recap commodity groups;
ii)
We need a household profile of each Recap farm;
iii)
What is the impact of the Programme, in terms of the livelihoods it
supports, the quality and number of jobs created; and,
iv)
What are the duties, responsibilities and obligations of the Recipients
of the Recap Support System?
Ladies and gentleman, let us be frank about the challenges we face, yet
as we do so, hold to our hearts the development of our country, the strides
we have made, and the future of this great nation.
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This workshop calls on us to be progressive as we evaluate this
programme, and together find solutions, as it is only through our combined
efforts that we will create food security for, and a better life for all.
I thank you!
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