It is indeed a somber mood across the fields of agriculture in South Africa. Today, Mzansi’s farming community pays its last respects to land reform champion Dr Vuyo Mahlati during her memorial service.
Food For Mzansi is also tracking important meetings taking place in the National Assembly in parliament. First up is the portfolio committee on agriculture, land reform and rural development on the Upgrading of the Land Tenure Rights Amendment (Ultra) Bill. Then the portfolio committee on environment, forestry and fisheries gathers to discuss the transfer of state forests to communities.
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Mzansi pay last respects to Dr Vuyo Mahlati
Family, friends, and agricultural dignitaries including Thoko Didiza, the minister of agriculture, land reform and rural development will gather today to pay their last respects to land reform champion Dr Vuyo Mahlati.
Dr Mahlati passed away last week at the age of 55 due to an undisclosed illness. The official memorial service for the former president of the African Farmers’ Association of South Africa (Afasa), takes place at 10:00 at the Pretoria Country Club in Waterkloof, Pretoria.
The service is open to invited guests only, however, it will be live-streamed on www.fb.com/foodformzansi. Dr Mahlati will be laid to rest on Wednesday, 21 October 2020 during a private family ceremony following a funeral service at the Glen Methodist Church in Garsfontein, east of Pretoria. The service will commence at 10:00.
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Ultra Bill: considerations and adoption
Back today for further deliberations on Ultra Bill is the portfolio committee on agriculture, land reform and rural development. The national assembly will today consider and adopt outstanding minutes.
The Portfolio Committee last met Tuesday, 13 October 2020 to continue its deliberations on the Upgrading of the Land Tenure Rights Amendment (Ultra) Bill.
Chairperson Nkosi Mandela noted members of the public lamented that Ultra was an inadequate piece of legislation to address the complexity of communal land rights administration and offer security of tenure required in Section 25(6) of the Constitution.
The committee’s virtual meeting has been scheduled for 09:00 until 12:00.
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Deliberations on transfer of state forests
The national portfolio committee on environment, forestry and fisheries will be briefed by the department of environment, forestry and fisheries today during a virtual meeting. The committee will be briefed on the transfer of state forests to communities. The virtual meeting will commence at 09:00 and is expected to run until 13:00.
