Several complaints about infighting among the members of communal property associations in North West, prompted the national agri minister herself to go on a fact-finding mission across the province this week.
“The minister will seek to get to the bottom of why infighting between CPAs and communities are present,” says Reggie Ngcobo, spokesperson for Minister Thoko Didiza. She reportedly decided to engage with CPA members and traditional leaders to bring some stability following several complaints to her office.
“The minister has received letters of complaint from disgruntled communities in North West and she also wants to meet with traditional leaders who are in the land reform space, either as claimants or as part of CPAs and holding the land on behalf of their community.”
Food For Mzansi also reported recently that communal property associations (CPAs) in South Africa are plagued by leadership disputes, inadequate management skills, legal non-compliance as well as little government support.
Ngcobo admits that most of the CPAs in the province have disputes pending and are dysfunctional, which have delayed community development and land reform. “The department is in the process of auditing these entities so that it can start a programme to address these challenges based on evidence. The CPAs are in possession of the agricultural land on behalf of beneficiaries and this land must remain productive and provide jobs.”
A glimmer of hope
A member of the Dikgatlhong CPA, Martin Tlhapane, says he hopes that the minister’s visit will address the challenges that are delaying the work of the CPA.
Amid infighting about who are the rightful leaders, it is difficult for him to pinpoint who is at fault for the association’s current challenges. Apart from leadership issues, disputes are also about how resources should be allocated or spent.
“What is important for us, is to really speak in one voice. We hope the visit by the minister will halt all the court cases that are dragging on and not really bringing anything good out of these CPAs that are meant to help the community.”
ASLO READ: Communal property associations ‘often dysfunctional’
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