Delegates at the land summit in Johannesburg on Saturday rejected the land-reform policy based on the willing-buyer-willing-seller principle, South African Broadcasting Corporation radio news reported on Sunday.
”Delegates were saying that they reject this principle. So, what it means is that the state must come up with a mechanism,” Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs Thoko Didiza said in her closing remarks.
Director General of Land Affairs Glen Thomas said although most delegates agreed the willing-buyer-willing-seller principle should be scrapped, opposition from commercial farmers means the matter requires further talks.
”Because of the minority view which comes from particularly the commercial agricultural sector in the form of AgriSA, this would be delayed for further discussions,” he said.
Social movements, churches, political parties not represented at Parliament and commercial farmers will be consulted on these issues.
The four-day summit, which ended on Saturday, has heard many people complain that the current policy is slowing land reform.
Others have complained that the current market system favours farmers.
The government wants all land-restitution claims settled within the next three years, and 30% of agricultural land to be delivered to the previously disadvantaged by 2014. By December last year, only 3% of commercial farm land had been redistributed.
Most of the opposition political parties and bodies representing white farmers at the summit were against scrapping the principle. — Sapa