Nelspruit-based avocado specialist HL Hall & Son is the facilitator in a Mpumulanga land reform deal that sees more than 6,000 hectares of the company's prime commercial land handed over to the Matsafeni Trust, owned and run by members of the Mdluli clan.
Portions of the land farmed in the South African north east by Halls since 1890 were previously occupied by members of the Mdluli clan and 1,100 registered a land claim against parts of the Hall-owned property in 1996. They will be the major beneficiaries of the deal, enabled by the country's Restitution Act and aided by the Mpumulanga Land Claims Commission. But another 740 families with employment ties to Halls will qualify for joint ownership of the Halls land on which they are housed.
The 6,000ha will be transferred into a trust that will deliver sustainable income and other benefits to members of the Mdluli clan, the qualifying farm workers and their dependents.
Halls group managing director Rob Snaddon said the company had been grappling with ways of providing qualifying disadvantaged families and communities with meaningful land ownership for seven years. "The majority of the beneficiaries have played a major role in the success of Halls over many years," he said, "and this outcome recognises their contribution - we believe it's a win-win deal for all stakeholders and a positive step for the South African land reform process that is essential if we are to redress inequalities of the past and have a stable political future in this country."
The Hall family has diversified from its farming roots, into agricultural technology, prepared fruit export, real estate development and other interests, but despite transferring nearly half of its commercial land, it will remain a large and viable farming business. A continued commitment to commercial farming is underscored, said Snaddon, by the fact that Halls is at an advanced stage of negotiations with the Matsafeni Trust to provide interim management of some of the newly acquired land.
Agreement would see Halls lease some of the Mdluli orchards and other farmland, providing income to the new owners while they start building up the working capital and management expertise that will be necessary for sustainable farming on commercial land. Halls will also offer specialist skills and technical expertise, where required.
Terry Mdluli, speaking on behalf of the clan, said: "It's been a hard and at times, challenging journey, but we are happy with the way HL Hall & Sons conducted the negotiations, and look forward to this spirit of co-operation continuing into the future as neighbours."
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