euros to help local land reform
21 February 2008

The Belgian government has donated €7,5-million (R83,6-million) to further land reform in South Africa.

"Belgium is a staunch supporter of land reform," said Belgium ambassador Jan Mutton, at the launch of the Settlement and Implementation Support (SIS) strategy at the Sheraton hotel in Pretoria.

The strategy has been developed to help support beneficiaries of land reform.

The launch was attended by Agriculture and Land Affairs Minister Lulu Xingwana, her deputy Dirk du Toit and chief land claims commissioner Thozi Gwanya.

Mutton said land reform was important for the country's economic development and the eradication of poverty.

Gwanya added: "You can't just drop land on people and hope for the best."

Xingwana said the strategy which was drawn up over an 18-month period provided a detailed analysis on land reform.  "I want to appeal to those involved in land reform not to interpret the SIS strategy as yet another concept but as a science of land reform, because it is a product of our past and current occurrences," said Xingwana.

The minister said she wanted to see improved job creation, and sustained growth and skills development through training and mentorship.

"Of the 7.5 million Euro, 1.5 million will go towards policy development while the rest will go towards settlement support," said Xingwana.

Sapa, www.iol.co.za