The Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development, Mzwanele Nyakhontso, recently presented the Integrated Land Reform and Rural Development Support Programme (ILRRDSP) in Nyavarkha village in the Eastern Cape. The event was attended by traditional leaders, beneficiaries of the land reform, government officials, and community members. The main theme of the programme was 'From land access to sustainable livelihoods: empowering rural communities through integrated support.'
This programme provides funding, technical assistance, skills development, infrastructure support, and market access for land reform beneficiaries. For the current financial year, R1.2 billion has been allocated to this programme.
Nyakhontso emphasized the injustice of land transfer without additional support and explained how the programme will operate in such cases. He stated that transferring land without comprehensive and restorative support for recipients is not justice, but merely an empty gesture. According to him, land without the means for productive use simply perpetuates past inequalities. He added that with the launch of the Integrated Support Programme, the era of people being 'thrown onto the land without support' officially ends.
He also noted that during colonization, not only land was taken; 'when colonial invaders took our land, they did not just take the soil. They also stole livestock, which was the most important source of wealth and economic capital for our ancestors.'
All nine provinces of the country will receive funds ranging from R100 million to R170 million per financial year. Nyakhontso outlined a support system where the farmer-beneficiary goes through a single coordinated process and receives a clear plan that includes funding, technical consultation, infrastructure support, and market access. He assured that the practice of directing a farmer from one organization to another will remain in the past.
The Department has established partnerships with several financial institutions, including the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), to strengthen and improve the Green Bank's blended finance scheme. Nyakhontso clarified that these are not just promises, as R500 million has already been allocated through the Green Bank's blended finance scheme. He added that the planting event held with DBSA two weeks ago confirms the programme's transition from policy to practical implementation.
He highlighted the importance of the agricultural sector and the need for the support programme to go beyond farming. Nyakhontso noted that while agriculture is the foundation, ILRRDSP covers much more than just farming. Furthermore, he reported that work is underway to accelerate the assessment and review process for submitted applications to provide results to farmer-beneficiaries as quickly as possible. He stressed the commitment to accelerating decision-making, timely notification of results, and ensuring that approved beneficiaries receive support without unnecessary delays.