NA gives green light to Deeds Registries Amendment Bill
26 Feb 2024
The national assembly has given the green light to the Deeds Registries Amendment Bill and sent it to the national council of provinces for concurrence.
The bill was tabled in parliament in November 2022.
The agriculture, land reform and rural development department published the bill’s explanatory summary in Government Gazette 46788 in August 2022.
Cabinet approved the proposed legislation in the same month for tabling in parliament.
In a statement, cabinet pointed out that the proposed amendments will give effect to the realisation of the land tenure that is legally secured in Section 25(6) of the Constitution of South Africa.
The bill also provides for the collection of statistics in terms of race, gender, nationality and citizenship of the holders of land rights in South Africa.
“This provision will enable more accurate land audit reports and surveys in the future regarding the transformation of land ownership.”
The bill was published for comment in July 2021.
In an earlier statement on approval of the bill for publication for comment, cabinet pointed out that the proposed legislation aims to amend the Deeds Registries Act of 1937 that has become outdated in its processes.
Cabinet also pointed out that, apart from overhauling the operational procedures of the Deeds Registries Office, the bill also “introduces the electronic system of processing submissions, which will modernise the process of serving the conveyancers and the public in general”.
The bill also proposes the appointment of the Registrar of Deeds, Deputy Registrar of Deeds and Assistant Registrar of Deeds.
The portfolio committee on agriculture, land reform and rural development adopted the bill without amendments.
The select committee on land reform, environment, mineral resources and energy will process the bill.
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See also:
- Constitutional concerns over controversial expropriation bills in South Africa
- Legal conveyancing in South Africa and the pivotal role of technology
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- Agricultural land: The struggle for subdivision
