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10/19/2004:

"Land restitution to cost state R13-billion"

An estimated R13 billion will have to be spent by the government to complete land restitution in South Africa, Agriculture Minister Thoko Didiza said on Tuesday.

She told reporters after attending the commercial agriculture working group meeting at the Union Buildings in Pretoria that this figure only considered restitution and did not include money required for land redistribution projects.

She said despite an agreement from agricultural unions that land restitution needed to be completed as quickly as possible in order not to prolong the pain and uncertainty caused by the process, there was doubt whether the December 2005 deadline set by the government would be met.

Full Article : iol.co.za