Around 400 stakeholders in the communal land sector have converged in Johannesburg for a two-day indaba to offer their inputs into the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform’s policies.

The delegates include government, agricultural unions, farm dwellers/workers, landless communities, beneficiaries of land reform, traditional leaders and academics.

They will discuss the thorny issues of communal tenure policy – both in traditional areas and communal held areas; land tenure security policy for commercial farming areas and strengthening the rights of people working on commercial land and land regulation policy to regulate foreign ownership.

Opening the Communal Land Indaba in Johannesburg on Friday, Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti said it was imperative for government and communities to address the question of land redistribution and communal land.

“This is a matter that has to be resolved … As government we feel very strongly about this change,” he said.

Minister Nkwinti told delegates that government was currently engaging with the unions and the workers in a bid to address land issues which was a complex task.

“We have to involve everyone to find solution,” he said.

Rural Development and Land Reform Deputy Minister Mcebisi Skwatsha echoed the sentiment that it was imperative to deal with land issues, adding that it has been problematic for many years.

He called on communities to actively get involved in discussions with government to resolve the problems.

Deputy Chief Land Claims Commissioner Thami Mdontswa, in his presentation, highlighted the importance of engagement with the various communities affected by land issues.

“Government admits that there are challenges and is trying to address them,” he said.