Questions regarding the government's Settlement and Land Acquisition Grant (SLAG) scheme have been raised in the National Assembly by Limpopo MP Desiree van der Walt (Democratic Alliance).

In a written submission, Ms van der Walt put a number of questions to Agriculture and Land Affairs Minister Thoko Didiza, in connection with a large number of farms being repossessed by the government.

Ms van der Walt put the following questions to the Minister:

How many farms given to disadvantaged communities, in terms of the land restitution programme in Limpopo, have been repossessed by the government since January 2000?

What were the reasons for the repossession of these farms?

What is the size of each farm?

Where are these farms located?

What types of farming were previously practiced on these farms?

What types of farming were being practiced when the farms were repossessed?

What compensation was paid to the communities concerned at the time of repossession?

How was this compensation, if any, calculated?

When were these communities compensated?

Were they offered any alternative housing when they left the farms?

What will become of these farms?

In an interview with our correspondent, Ms van der Walt pointed out that the farm La Boheme, near Tzaneen, was purchased by the government in 1998 for R4.5 million, during Mr Derek Hanekom’s term of office as Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs. Hanekom was heartily congratulated on his successful implementation of the government’s land redistribution policy, in a motion approved by parliament.

“In terms of the SLAG programme, an allowance of R16 000 per household was made available to enable people to pool their resources in order to buy farms. La Boheme was handed over to 383 prospective new farmers”, she said. However, she pointed out that a report in the Sunday Times on 2 April, 2006, stated that the farm had shown no profits since being handed over to the new occupants, and was now only valued at a meagre R920 000.

According to this news report, some 71 unproductive farms in Limpopo were now being targeted for repossession by the province’s MEC for Agriculture.

“When will the ANC learn to first test the capacity of prospective farmers, or to provide training, in order to avoid a repetition of such costly mistakes?” Ms van der Walt asked.

She is currently awaiting replies to all her questions from the Minister.