​The Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) Mr Gugile Nkwinti has handed over two farms to labour tenants in the Emakhazeni local municipality in the Mpumalanga province yesterday ( 4 March).

The Paardeplaas and Rietfontein farms were acquired by the Department at a combined cost of R3 630, 00 (three point six million) for the purpose of securing tenure for the settlement of eight former labour tenants and their families and a further 59 people living at Paardeplaas. Some of the beneficiaries have been residing on the properties for more than 10 years and therefore take on the status of "long term occupier".

The handover was part of efforts to address the plight of farm workers who were classified as labour tenants by past laws and thus subjected to discriminatory practices often resulting in their eviction from the farms on which they worked and lived without notice.

Minister Nkwinti told the community that the Department will also allocate financial resources and the necessary support for the farms in order to ensure they become productive.

The minister also said he will meet with the Mayors so that they can plan a way forward to assist the labour tenant to produce crops and livestock for both subsistence and for the market.

"Now that you are farmers I want the mayors to help you to establish markets so that you can sell your produce. I also want you to be linked to the Agri-Parks that are being established in all the districts so that you are embedded in the economic activities in your districts", the minister added.  

Representatives of the beneficiary community said they were grateful for the support of government in acquiring the farms adding that they had been waiting for many decades for the day when they would own the farm. They also welcomed an assurance by the minister and local politicians that they would be provided with services such as electricity and sanitation and that new homes would be built for them.   

The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform has prioritised the settling of land claims of former labour tenants. In addition to this a senior manager has been appointed to oversee the process of settling labour tenants claims.