04 Nov 2003: ISS Seminar: Are land invasions a catalyst for farm attacks? Pretoria SEMINAR: ARE LAND INVASIONS A CATALYST FOR FARM ATTACKS? Tuesday, 4 November 2003 Presented by the CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMME [Presentations: Dr Lahiff (PDF) / Dir van der Walt (PowerPoint) / Ms de Haas (PDF)] Two and a half years after the Committee of Inquiry into Farm Attacks was appointed, the long-awaited report was released to the public on the 18th of September. Many expected the findings to be controversial and possibly have far reaching implications for the departments of Safety and Security, Justice, Land Affairs, and Agriculture. The report lived up to the expectations - particularly with regard to the role of land invasions as a catalyst for farm attacks. By highlighting the role of land invasions in farm attacks, the report has a direct bearing on the roles and responsibilities of the SAPS, and of the departments’ of Land Affairs and Justice. The seminar aims to discuss land invasions, farm attacks, and land reform, in a regional (SADC) context. The report, with its findings, will also be discussed by a panel of experts. Speakers: Duxita Mistry: ISS senior researcher and a member of the Committee of Inquiry into Farm Attacks will give a brief overview of the Committee’s findings. Ms Mary de Haas: also a member of the Committee of Inquiry into Farm Attacks will present evidence from a number of case studies of land invasions in Kwazulu Natal. Dr Edward Lahiff: Senior lecturer in Land and Agrarian Studies, UWC, will discuss land reform in SA and in the wider SADC region. Director Bert van der Walt: will examine the role and responsibility of the SAPS with respect to illegal occupation of land and subsequent evictions, and he will speak of the implications the SAPS responses have on farm attacks. Date: Tuesday, 4 November Time: 10:30 – 12:30pm Venue: ISS, Block C, Brooklyn Court, Veale Street East, Pretoria (map) RSVP: Ms Bilkis Omar, email: [email protected] Tel: (012) 346 9500, fax: (012) 460 0998 Parking is available at Brooklyn Mall & ABSA parkades at your own cost. This seminar is made possible by the generous funding of the USAID and the Hanns Seidel Foundation.
