Deputy Minister Sotyu hands over forestry plantations to the Batlokoa and Makhoba communities in the Eastern Cape
The Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Makhotso Sotyu has handed over forestry plantations to the Batlokoa and Makhoba communities in Mount Fletcher, Eastern Cape.
The combined extent of these plantations is approximately 362.31 hectares. The management of Lehana and Fort Usher plantations were handed over to the Batlokoa community while the management of Makhoba plantation was handed over to Makhoba community. The handing over of these plantations is in line with the provisions of the National Forests Acts (NFA), 1998 (Act No.84 of 1998).
“The transfer of the management of these plantations will go a long way to improve the livelihoods of the Batlokoa and Makhoba communities. This will also create jobs and I would like to urge the youth and women to seize this opportunity,” said Deputy Minister Sotyu.
The historic handover supports government priority of economic transformation and job creation as proposed by the Forestry Master Pan which aims to ensure inclusive growth and transformation while attracting the necessary investment to develop the sector, creating economic and employment opportunities in especially rural areas. The Plan balances environmental, economic and social benefit from the forestry resources.
Speaking during the Budget Vote speech presentation in Parliament, Deputy Minister Sotyu announced that the Department would be transferring plantations to communities in the Eastern Cape. The transfer will be done through Community Forestry Agreements to communities in line with the National Forests Act. The Act promotes sustainable management and development of forests for the benefit of all and promote community forestry. The agreement is the outcome of discussions between the DFFE and the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure with several municipalities to facilitate that all lease-expired state land, should be recommissioned back for forestry commercial plantations, with the aim to enter into a Community Forestry Agreement with the communities that are now currently occupying the land.
“Forestry is one of the leading sectors in our economy that has the capacity and capability to continuously contribute to the growth of this country. As part of the initiatives to support that growth, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has been leading a process to develop the forestry sector’s Masterplan,” added Sotyu.
The Masterplan – which focusses mainly on interventions that will improve investments and transformation in the sector – includes the transfer of plantations to allow government to focus on policy and regulation of the sector in efforts to let it strive. The Plan was approved by in 2020 to ensure transformation, growth and development in the sector.
National Forests Act on the other hand promotes the sustainable management and development of forests for the benefit of all; promote community forestry and promote greater participation in all aspects of forestry and the forest products industry by persons disadvantaged by unfair discrimination. Section 29 of the NFA allows communities that are interested in managing State Forest plantations to submit their request to enter into a Community Forestry Agreement (CFA) with the Minister. The Batlokoa and Makhoba communities applied for the CFA and the Minister has approved and signed their CFA.
“In line with the signed Community Forestry Agreements, I would like to make a commitment on behalf of the Department that we will provide with the necessary support that is required to make these plantations a viable business in the future. The Department will work with the affected communities to develop a plan that will ensure the management of these resources in a sustainable manner going forward”, added Sotyu.
Where feasible, the communities will be linked with interested industry role-players in a fair and transparent manner. These industry role-players should be viewed as strategic partners who will then assist with additional expertise and resources to recapitalise plantations. This will be their contribution as part of the Masterplan, and we hope that they will assist when they are called to in this regard. Negotiations and discussions as well as the associated processes are often protracted and complex, but ultimately, we have reached the goal of empowering our communities.
Source: Government of South Africa