Introduction what is going wrong in south africas postapartheid land reform programme, and how can its failings be addressed. The process of acquiring and distributing a particular piece of land is often lengthy, and this escalates the cost of redistribution because the former owner. While the government is unlikely to use expropriation because of strong political opposition, particularly from white farmers, another. Land redistribution in south africa commissioned report for high level panel on the assessment of key legislation and the acceleration of fundamental change, an initiative of the parliament of south africa thembela kepe university of toronto rhodes university and. The purpose of this study therefore was to assess the impact of the land redistribution in the case of selected farms in the vhembe district. In december 2017, the ruling african national congress anc resolved to move ahead with land expropriation without compensation to speed up its landreform program, although a multitude of policy details. The presidential advisory panel on land reform and agriculture v. Diagnostic report on land reform in south africa parliament of. The challenges of transformation and redistribution cherryl walker human sciences research council harold wolpe memorial trust conference cape town, 25 27 march 2004. This paper provides an overview of land reform in south africa from 1994 to 2011, with the focus on the land redistribution. Rural zimbabwe empties as mugabe land reform policy unravels. The department of land affairs in south africa commissioned a large household survey in. Progress to date1 edward lahiff2 introduction and background this paper provides an overview of land reform in south africa since the advent of democratic government in 1994, with a particular emphasis on land redistribution. Land redistribution in south africa parliament of south.
Land reform in south africa is the promise of land restitution to empower farm workers who now have the opportunity to become farmers and reduce inequality. South africa confronts a legacy of apartheid the atlantic. Nov, 2018 more than a century later, south africa is still struggling to redress this historical injustice and the inequality it continues to foster. However, the report also points to some of the realities associated with the complex land issue in south africa. Diagnostic report on land reform in south africa commissioned report for high level panel on the assessment of key legislation and the acceleration of fundamental change, an initiative of the parliament of south africa institute for poverty, land and agrarian studies. Dec 21, 2017 land redistribution without compensation on wednesday evening was the last stand in the anc factional proxy battles. Nearly 60% of all south africans, live on land or in dwellings outside of.
South africa begins seizing whiteowned farms washington. It is believed to allow previously unemployed people to participate in the economy and better the countrys economic growth. My land, my life is a journey into the heart of the zimbabwean crisis, we get a glimpse into the complexities of a range of ordinary zimbabweans and their understanding of. Impact of land redistribution on consumption in south africa. Thus far, constitutional powers of expropriation have not been used in pursuit of land redistribution. Agricultural land redistribution and land administration in subsaharan africa. The policy formulation process and the context of the government of national unity as discussed in chapter 5 can, in part, explain this slow process. This is because, we argue, land redistribution in south africa has. Land reform in south africa is a moral, social and economic imperative.
Land reform key for south africa economic stability, anc says. The case of the land redistribution for agricultural development lrad programme in limpopo. Land redistribution in south africa, trumps tweet, and us. Solving africas land issues to boost productivity, alleviate. Aug 02, 2018 south africa is highly unequal, with 95 percent of its wealth being held by 10 percent of its population. Agricultural land redistribution and land administration in. Contributors xi abbreviations xiii introduction and overview of agricultural land redistribution and land administration case studies 1 frank f. Land reform and redistribution in south africa guardian. Land redistribution in south africa who gets land and. United nations data shows the proportion of the population living in towns surged to about 32 percent in 2015, from 11 percent in 1950, a trend thats. Whereas his excellency the president of south africa, mr cyril matamela ramaphosa, appointed the expert advisory panel on land reform and agriculture on 18 september 2018 comprising. The focus of this publication is primarily on land restitution whereby rights to ancestral land are restored be it by a claimdriven process or a land acquisition process as an important element of land reform, although some comments will be made to land reform in general.
It is easy, at events like this, to roll out a wish list of what land reform should achieve and who it. South africa is highly unequal, with 95 percent of its wealth being held by 10 percent of its population. The land audit 2017 reveals the relationship of south africans to one. But despite the general consensus not to repeat zimbabwes economic disaster, few people disagree that land ownership needs to be reformed in south africa.
The process of acquiring and distributing a particular piece of land is often lengthy, and this escalates the cost of redistribution because the former owner stops investing in the land, the report states. South africa s land reform programme, adopted by the african national congress anc led government in 1994, has a long way to go in redressing the historical injustice of land dispossession, denial of access to land and forced removals. A 10point plan to accelerate orderly land reform in south africa. According to a 2017 land audit by the south african government, 72 percent of the countrys arable land remains in the hands of whites, who account for fewer than 10 percent of the total. In a study that she did in the eastern cape on land redistribution, they found out that it was the rich and agribusiness who benefited. South african farmers fear forced land redistribution the. A critical appraisal of south africas marketbased land reform policy. The government policies and associated implementation since 1994 have not generated expected social and economic results for a number of reasons. Land related issues have taken centre stage in sociopolitical and economic discourse in postapartheid south africa. Land is not only a controversial issue in certain parts of the continent, such as south africa, where land expropriation is a hot topic. As in other societies, access to land is vital for socialcultural sustainability, improved livelihoods and economic development. Fight rages over land reform in south africa forbes. South african farmers fear forced land redistribution. Recent debate on land redistribution in south africa has focused primarily on whether expropriation and other nonmarketbased mechanisms would accelerate land acquisition for redistribution lahiff, 2009.
Since 2008, africa attracted numerous foreign investors. The focus of the paper is the land redistribution program, but it touches briefly on restitution and tenure reform programs. This paper provides an overview of land reform in south africa from 1994 to 2011. This paper is an analysis of papers, reports and legislation that deals with land reform in south africa. Mar 09, 2017 south africas ruling party will accelerate the transfer of land to the black majority to help reduce inequality and avert future protests, the african national congresss spokesman zizi kodwa. But only 50% around 200 000 hectares of the land invested in has been harnessed for production. Over time, land redistribution had steadily drifted away from its. Land redistribution is a constitutionally mandated function of government.
While there are a fair number of studies on land reform in south africa, there are knowledge gaps on the impact of some specific forms of land redistribution on livelihoods of beneficiaries. Land available for use by africans was increased by 5% in 1936 fn5 bringing the total to % of the total area of south africa, although much of the land remained in the ownership of the state through the south african development trust supposedly held in trust for the african people. Land reform in south africa is sinking nelson mandela foundation. Today in south africa, 72 percent of farms and agricultural holdings are owned by whites, who make up 8. The 2012 world bank report on agricultural land redistribution emphasizes the link between economic. Byamugisha the problems of land ownership inequality and. The paper begins with a brief sketch of the historical background, before. It is one of the main topics for discussion at africa development week 2017, which is underway in dakar, senegal. On 3 february 2017, minister of rural development and land reform. September and october 2017, while nigerian interviews were. A mix of revenge and socialist ideology are behind the expropriation with compensation policy amendments that changed the south africa constitution. The sadc region represents close to a third of the total african land mass.
Jan 18, 2014 the land reform and redistribution in south africa is a serious concern for the ruling government and must be resolved in a suitable manner. The purpose of this study therefore was to assess the impact of the land redistribution in the. Land reform is necessary in south africa, but that. Programme for land and agrarian studies, university of the western cape. A separate report, published by agrisa in november 2017, focused solely on agricultural land, and showed that landowners who are not white own 26. It also relates to restitution in the form of settling land claims of people who were forcefully removed from. Diagnostic report on land reform in south africa commissioned report for high level panel on the assessment of key legislation and the acceleration of fundamental change, an initiative of the parliament of south africa institute for poverty, land and agrarian studies university of the western cape september 2016. South africa wants to transform itself by redistributing land. A mix of revenge and socialist ideology are behind the expropriation with compensation policy amendments that. The land audit 2017 reveals the relationship of south africans to one another through the management of land as a resource for sustainable development and nationbuilding. African customary law is upheld by the south african constitution section 2.
Land redistribution without compensation on wednesday evening was the last stand in the anc factional proxy battles. Here, land reform is understood to include the related concepts of land redistribution. Who will be hit hardest by land redistribution without. Budget allocations have been derisory, with only around 0,4% of the annual national budget allocated for land reform as a whole, and around 0. Progress and challenges article pdf available in ssrn electronic journal november 2012 with 14,289 reads how we measure reads.
Theories of land reform and their impact on land reform. The land reform and redistribution in south africa is a serious concern for the ruling government and must be resolved in a suitable manner. Opinionista sipho pityana 8 february 2017 south africa, a country torn apart by nepotism, corruption and state capture. In december 2017, the ruling african national congress anc. South africa begins seizing whiteowned farms in land. Section 25 of the constitution requires land redistribution to promote equitable access to land, but progress has been slow and the programme largely ineffective. Aug 27, 2018 today in south africa, 72 percent of farms and agricultural holdings are owned by whites, who make up 8. Perceptions regarding land reform debate, progress made and challenges encountered in.
Feb 28, 2017 read more on zimbabwes economic crisis. Land reform key for south africa economic stability, anc. South africa, a country torn apart by nepotism, corrupt. Mar 14, 2018 property rights are in danger in south africa. It begins with a brief sketch of the historical background before outlining the main. Agricultural land redistribution and land administration. This restriction resulted in huge differences in land holdings between people of european descent, who occupied on average 1600 ha per person and native people, who occupied only 1. Landrelated issues have taken centre stage in sociopolitical and economic discourse in postapartheid south africa. Within a south african context, land reform has a historical background, rooted. May 03, 2019 according to a 2017 land audit by the south african government, 72 percent of the countrys arable land remains in the hands of whites, who account for fewer than 10 percent of the total. Land redistribution in south africa who gets land and how. A compendium 1 of essays on land reform in south africa by wandile sihlobo and johann kirsten.
What is going wrong in south africas postapartheid land reform programme, and how can its failings be addressed. Figures the first four years of the land redistribution programme were incredibly slow. More than a century later, south africa is still struggling to redress this historical injustice and the inequality it continues to foster. Mar 24, 2017 since 2008, africa attracted numerous foreign investors. Twenty two years after the transition to democracy and the commencement of land reform, there is a great deal of lived experience to. Mar 29, 2018 my land, my life is a journey into the heart of the zimbabwean crisis, we get a glimpse into the complexities of a range of ordinary zimbabweans and their understanding of their fastchanging. In 19, south africas land act set aside 87% of the countrys land. South africas land reform programme, adopted by the african national congress anc led government in 1994, has a long way to go in redressing the historical injustice of land dispossession, denial of access to land and forced removals. The same applies with land restitution, redistribution and. Now 16 years into democracy, landless people hope that government under the leadership of president jacob zuma, and rural development and land reform. Africa land reform news, research and analysis the conversation. The native land act of 19 played a key role in the restriction of native people of south africa sa to occupy only % of the countrys land feinberg, 1993, louw, 20. The land redistribution program will be the primary focus of this thesis.
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