Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs Lulama Xingwana of South Africa

Xingwana said some of the “tricks” included the practice of selling mining rights by black entities "to the highest bidder to fund expensive lifestyles rather than invest.
South Africa will make it easier for black people to buy predominantly white-owned farms under a controversial land-redistribution programme, Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs Lulama Xingwana said on Friday.
In a speech to Parliament in Cape Town, Xingwana said her department would introduce a series of projects aimed at streamlining the funding of land purchases to counter criticism the process has been too bureaucratic.
Xingwana has said her department was learning from its mistakes and refocusing its efforts to incorporate training of black farmers who were granted land under the programme.
On Tuesday, Xingwana said that good progress is being made in establishing a "special-purpose vehicle" (SPV) to speed up and ensure effective land reform.
Briefing the media after a meeting of the presidential commercial-agriculture working group at Tuynhuys, Xingwana said the matter was still under discussion, but would hopefully go to the Cabinet for approval in a month's time.
Xingwana says she doesn't expect too many obstacles as her predecessor, Thoko Didiza, "laid a solid foundation.
As Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs, Minister Xingwana has worked extensively to promote and further the Strategy for Biofuels in South Africa.
In addition to her position as Minister, Lulama Xingwana is a member of the African National Congress Womens Leagues (ANCWL), the National Working Committee (NWC), and the National Executive Committee (NEC.
Minister Xingwana received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Witwatersrand in 1985.
Discussions were far advanced within the government on a proposal to introduce a land tax, Land Affairs Minister Lulama Xingwana said yesterday.
Xingwana said foreigners converted agricultural land into golf courses and game parks.
Xingwana said the price of land was rising because everyone knew the government had to buy land for land reform and restitution.
Xingwana said agriculture is the backbone of the economy but there are still challenges that face South Africa.
TAU SA said that Xingwana had voiced her concern over the lack of interest among young people in agriculture.
Agriculture and Land Affairs Minister Lulama Xingwana is in the US holding bilateral trade talks with her counterpart Mike Johanns, amongst others.
Land and agriculture minister Lulama Xingwana has set out six targets her department will aim to achieve over the next two years.