The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development has commended Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Thoko Didiza’s report on the interventions to reinforce governance, oversight and accountability of the Ingonyama Trust and Ingonyama Trust Board.
“We appreciate the efforts by the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Ms Thoko Didiza, to navigate the complex issues that have historically plagued the trust. The measures that have been put in place are far reaching and directed at achieving greater transparency, accountability and good governance,” committee chairperson, Inkosi Zwelivelile Mandela said.
During a meeting on Tuesday, Didiza reported to the committee that her department has been grappling with the matters relating to the Ingonyama Trust Board and the Ingonyama Trust; these include the strengthening of Ingonyama Trust’s governance issues, and transparency in the management of the finances of the Ingonyama Trust and the Trust Board.
Other issues include assisting the Ingonyama Trust to develop its disbursement policy that must assist oversight bodies, such as Parliament to assess the manner in which the public entity fulfils the mandate for which they were established.
Other contributions include the secondment of the Chief Financial Officer to assist the Ingonyama Trust Board in financial management and accountability. The Minister also informed the committee about processes to establish a new board.
Another intervention was made through the Inter-Ministerial Task Team set up by President Cyril Ramaphosa to address issues arisen due to the Report of the High Level Panel on Assessment of Key Legislation and Fundamental Transformation and the Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee on Amendment of Section 25 of the Constitution.
It was reported that the Inter-Ministerial Task Team had engagement with the relevant stakeholders and is yet to table a report of its work to the President.
The Minister also considered the issues raised by the committee, regarding the mandate and the role of the Ingonyama Trust Board vis-à-vis the obligation of the Ingonyama Trust; the role of the Ingonyama Holdings (PTY) Ltd as a subsidiary of the Ingonyama Trust together with its accountability; and the conversion of customary tenure rights and PTOs (Permission to Occupy), to leases.
The committee welcomed the progress report regarding the department’s interventions to strengthen the administration of the Ingonyama Trust land.
Mandela has called on all stakeholders to work cooperatively to ensure that the intended benefits flow to the beneficiary communities.
“We must seize this opportunity to use the Ingonyama Trust model to ensure that we drive the agenda of restorative justice for all traditional land ownership,” Mandela said.
The committee also reaffirmed its position regarding the role of the Ingonyama Trust Board as an accounting authority for the Ingonyama Trust.
“The committee believes that the Ingonyama Trust Board should fully account on all funds voted by Parliament for the Ingonyama Trust Board and all funds that the Trust levies from communities, collects through leases and/or royalty revenue as well as revenue generated through the work of the Ingonyama Holdings (PTY) Ltd as a subsidiary company of the Trust.
“This committee will ensure that administration of the Ingonyama Trust land is for the benefit of deserving communities living on that land. The committee envisioned a public entity that is transparent, efficient, effective and responsive to the needs of communities living on its land,” Mandela said.
The chairperson added that, given that the Minister was grappling with the same issues that the committee has raised over the last three years, the committee has agreed that these issues must be put under spotlight with a clear programme for 2023 to ensure that they are resolved before the end of the term for the 6th Parliament.
