OFFICE OF THE SURVEYOR GENERAL : BLOEMFONTEIN
RE-DESIGNATION OF PROPERTIES FROM FARM TO ERF, PROCLAMATION OF AGRICALTURAL LAND AND APPLICATIONS IN TERMS OF THE SUBDIVISION OF AGRICULTURAL LAND ACT NO.70 OF 1970
The ofice of the Surveyor General: Bloemfontein is guided by the many legislation in executing their duties, one of such legislations bieng the Subdivision of Agricultural Land Act No. 70 of 1970. The subdivision of agricultural land is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the department of Agriculture Land Reform and Rural Develepment. The Minister has given powers to the Directorate:Land Use and Soil Management to administer Agricultural land.
In the past the office of the Surveyor General received and accepted a letter from the Directorate: Land Use and Soil Management which stated that the “department has no objection to the proposed township establishment/ rezoning” as an approval from the Department.
However, after discussion with the Directorate: Land Use and Soil Management regarding the letters of no objection, we have been informed that our interpration of the “no objection” letter as approval is incorrect and contravenes the provisions of Act 70 of 1970 in so far as the approval by the Minister entails.
Henceforth, every subdivision of a ” Farm or Farm Portion ” lodged with our office must be accompanied by:
- A consent to subdivide Agrucultural Land with the wording “Approved” and with the “Consent Reference No and endorsed layout plan”
Circular 1 of 2025
- A gazette notice clearly stating that a farm or farm portion is excluded from the provisions of the Subdivision of Agricultural Land Act No. 70 of 1970
- A gazette clearly stating that a farm or farm portion is to be re-designated (incorporated) from farm or farm portion to an Erf.
- A gazette indicating a proclamation of a township before our spatial map can be amended.
It must be noted that while the office of the Surveyor General is under the Department of Agriculture Land Reform and Rural Development we however are not custodians of Agricultural Land but rather, Land Use and Soil Management manages the subdivisions of Agricultural land and therefore all application must be lodged with them.
Rosalind Mdubeki Surveyor-General: Bloemfontein (Free State and Northern Cape)
10 February 2025
