1. STATUS REPORT ON THE LAND RIGHTS MANAGEMENT FACILITY (LRMF)
DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LAND REFORM
STATUS REPORT ON THE LAND RIGHTS MANAGEMENT FACILITY (LRMF)
DATE : 8 SEPTEMBER 2010
TIME: 10:00
VENUE: COMMITTEE ROOM M 314, MARKS BUILDING, PARLIAMENT

2. OUTLINE Background Rationale for the LRMF How does the LRMF Operate
Status of Mediation Cases
Status of Legal Services Panel Cases
LRMF beyond November 2010

3. BACKGROUND LRMF was established in November 2007.
Two service providers were appointed to provide mediation services (Mediation Transformation Practice) and manage a legal services panel (Cheadle Thompson & Haysom Incorporated).
Both contracts were for a three year period (2007 – 2010).
Call Centre ( ) also established to improve access for persons in need of assistance.
Call centre provides for all 11 official languages.

4. RATIONALE FOR THE LRMF
Land Reform (Labour Tenants) Act, 1996 and the Extension of Security of Tenure Act, 1997 provided for rights that could mainly be asserted through legal mechanisms.
Existing legal aid system could not adequately provide for civil litigation including litigation on land matters.
Government has a legal obligation to provide legal assistance to persons living and working on farms (Nkuzi Development Association v Government of the Republic of SA and Another LCC 10/2001) and yet there was no functional mechanism.
Government procurement systems are not geared to respond as quickly as matters of this nature require.

5. HOW DOES THE LRMF OPERATE?
Call Centre / District / provincial office receives a complaint.
Complaint assessed whether Departmental officials can deal with the matter or whether it requires legal intervention or mediation.
Matter is referred to either service on the basis of the said assessment.
Service provider conducts its own assessment and appoints an attorney/mediator from the panel if required.
Regular feedback to either Provincial/District Office and clients.

6. STATUS OF MEDIATION CASES
PROVINCE
SETTLED
LITIGATION
NO MEDIATION REQUIRED
NO AGREEMENT
TOTAL
Eastern Cape 13 10 31 22 76
Free State 15 25 87
Gauteng 5 1 6
KZN 27 17 72
Limpopo 4 2 8
Mpumalanga 29 9 18 16
North West 35
Northern Cape 3 11
Western Cape 24 12 59
139
123 95
433

7. STATUS OF LEGAL SERVICES PANEL CASES
PROVINCE
FINALISED
PENDING
TOTAL
Eastern Cape 6 29 35
Free State 74
114
188
Limpopo 11 30 41
Gauteng 19 54 73
North West 18 57 75
Mpumalanga
100
118
KwaZulu-Natal 26
162
Western Cape
150
185
Northern Cape 4
207
700
907

8. THE LRMF BEYOND NOVEMBER 2010
New tender has been advertised for the next 18 months.
Only a single service provider to be appointed.
Process to be finalised by October 2010.
The facility will be institutionalised through the proposed Land Tenure Security Law.

9. THANK YOU