Land allocation process kick-started

It might be belated but at least justice in ensuring equitable distribution of productive arable land is being done.
The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) has started allocating land under the programme of Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy (PLAS), which has a budget of R215 million.
The first beneficiaries under the programme include farm workers, agriculture graduates, military veterans, youth and women who specialise in livestock, crops, deciduous fruit, and dairy. Farm workers in Bathurst and Oudtshoorn were allocated farms this week.
The Director General of DRDLR, Mdu Shabane, said Bathurst farm would be used as a pilot project for the policy on Strengthening the Relative Rights of People Working the Land Policy (50/50 Policy).
According to Shabane, under the 50/50 Policy farm workers will partner with the existing owner and another co-op with extensive experience in the agricultural sector. In a different arrangement, farm workers in Oudtshoorn were leased a farm that produces tobacco, lucerne, and breed ostriches.