Dear Portfolio Committee on Agriculture,

We would like to ask what support has been given to the Director: Land and Soil Management since the decision was made to split the DALRRD as well as the repercussions of same.

We have noted this year that there is a sudden decline in the processing of applications in terms of Act 70/70 dealing with the subdivision of Agricultural Land. At a time previously, same were processed within 90 days. Now it's in the region of 1 year or more!

This is absolutely dishearting to the farming community as the process does not stop there. After obtaining consent one must still then process same in terms of the SPLUMA legislation.

And KwaZulu-Natal SPLUMA legislation provides no exemptions for same (unlike Mpumalanga for instance).

So to take a normal subdivision application in KwaZulu-Natal: 1 year for the NDA (Act 70/70), then up to 16 months for the SPLUMA approval (Act 16/2013) (depending on each Municipality's processing ability). Over 28 months for one agricultural transaction!

Kindly advise whether the necessary support can be given to the relevant NDA department as this should be a priority for the economy of the Agricultural community!

Thank-you.