Recapitalised red meat land reform projects in Bloemfontein

The Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform to monitor the recapitalised red meat land reform projects in Bloemfontein

8 Aug 2011

The Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform Mr Gugile Nkwinti cordially invites members of the media to the monitoring visit of the Recapitalised Red Meat Land Reform Projects which be held on 12 August 2011 in Zoopjefontein (Senakal), in the Free State province.

The Free State Premier Ace Magashule and the MEC Agriculture and Rural Development MJ Zwane will grace the occasion and various stakeholders, including the farming community in the province, will also be in attendance. 

The Red Meat projects were initiated by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR). The main purpose of the project to enable land reform beneficiaries to gain access to and participate in the red meat value chain in the Free State, taking into account the historical strengths and weaknesses of the land reform programme which started in 1994 and the new approach espoused by the DRDLR Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP) to development based on the principles of:

• De-racialising of the rural economy for shared and sustained growth
• Democratic and equitable land use
• Sustained production discipline.

The Project involves 11 farms from the Free State province which are located within the different districts. The beneficiaries were all selected across the different land reform programmes namely, Restitution, Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development (LRAD) and Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy (PLAS). The department has through the Recapitalisation and Development Programme, appointed a Strategic Partner named Bloemfontein Abattoir to recapitalise and Develop selected land reform farms thereby ensuring:

• Increased productivity
• Food security
• Development of small scale farmers to commercial producers
• Development of SMME’s & creation of employment opportunities

The total cost of the partnership that the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform invested is R142 million and this includes gaining and participation in the above mentioned areas. To date an amount of R32 million in the Free State has been approved and R22 million has been already been transferred to go toward the economic farm infrastructure development.

The following are details of the event:

Date: 12 August 2011
Venue: Zoopjefontein (Senakal)
Time: 15H00

For all media transport arrangements from Bloemfontein to Senekal please contact Tshepo Diale on 071 850 1751.
For RSVP and further information regarding the event kindly contacts the following officials:

Mr Tshepo Diale: Communication Services
Tel: 012 312 8532
Cell: 071 850 1751

Mr Karabelo Raseobi
Tell: 051 400 4200
Cell: 082 334 5076

Enquiries:
Mr Eddie Mohoebi – Head of Communications Services
Tel: 012 312  9648
Cell: 082 550 1445

Issued by: Department of Rural Development and Land Reform
8 Aug 2011