Report of the Committee on Private Members’ Legislative Proposals and Special Petitions on the legislative proposal to amend the Land and Agriculture Development Bank Act, No 15 of 2002 (Honourable PJC Pretorius), dated 2 March 2011:

The Committee on Private Members’ Legislative Proposals and Special Petitions, having considered the legislative proposal to amend the Land and Agriculture Development Bank Act, No 15 of 2002, and consulted with the Standing Committee on Finance, the National Treasury and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, recommends that permission not be granted to the member to proceed with the proposed legislation.

The committee wishes to make the following observations with regard to its recommendation:

1. both the National Treasury and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries identified certain challenges that surround the effective implementation of the Land and Agriculture Development Bank Act, No 15 of 2002;

2. the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries indicated that a turn-around strategy, to deal with identified challenges, has been reported to the relevant parliamentary committees; and

3. the national executive seeks to address legislative issues relating to the administration of the Land Bank in a holistic manner, and not by way of piecemeal amendment of relevant legislation.

In light of the above, the committee is of the view that the legislative proposal of Honourable PJC Pretorius is not feasible and should not be proceeded with. [Honourable PJC Pretorius (Democratic Alliance) and Honourable L Greyling (Independent Democrats) dissenting.]

Report to be considered.