Land redistribution for agricultural development 2001. Government, land owners, csos and citizens should work together to make land reform a success. The challenges of transformation and redistribution cherryl walker human sciences research council harold wolpe memorial trust conference cape town, 25 27 march 2004. Solving africas land issues to boost productivity, alleviate. Four land redistribution scenarios for south africa all of. The need for land reform south africa suffered a long history of colonization, racial domination and land dispossession that.
How south africa should tackle the redistribution of land in. Pdf this paper is an analysis of papers, reports and legislation that deals with land reform in south africa. Acknowledgements the author wishes to acknowledge the kind assistance of ddg sue lund and. Now 16 years into democracy, landless people hope that government under the leadership of president jacob zuma, and rural development and land reform. Land redistribution in south africa university of cape town. Introduced in 1994, south africas land reform programme is based on both equity and economic grounds, and originates from section 25 of the constitution. 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 programmes stated targets were intended to alter the ethnic balance of land ownership. Who will be hit hardest by land redistribution without. Land reform is necessary in south africa, but that is about the only issue regarding land reform on which there is consensus. Asking questions about how to address this challenge is an urgent task. How south africa should tackle the redistribution of land. Land claims and land restitution in south africa, prepared a fact sheet on land distribution for the institute for poverty, land. South africas democratic government implemented land reform to rectify these past racial. Land redistribution forced to centre stage in south africa.
More recently, without compensation is being explored as an option to speed up the process. This follows a spike in data traffic since the 21 day. The objective of this study was to assess the extent to which land reform policy and implementation programmes have. Case studies of recent reforms world bank documents. It is believed to allow previously unemployed people to participate in the economy and better the countrys economic growth. Redistribution of income through taxation and spending in. Since the advent of democracy in 1994, issues at the heart of the land question in south africa are how to reverse this phenomenon and how a largescale redistribution of land can contribute to the transformation of the economy and the reduction of poverty, both rural and urban.
South african farmers fear forced land redistribution. This is because, we argue, land redistribution in south africa has drifted away from the ideal of social justice. Although the passage from apartheid to democracy has brought immense changes, south africa is still struggling with high unemployment and pressing inequality. A critical appraisal of south africa s marketbased land reform policy.
South africa suffered a long history of colonization, racial domination and land dispossession that resulted in the bulk of the agricultural land being owned by a. 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. It begins with a brief sketch of the historical background before outlining the main. What is going wrong in south africas postapartheid land reform. Land reform in zimbabwe officially began in 1980 with the signing of the lancaster house agreement, as an effort to more equitably distribute land between black subsistence farmers and white zimbabweans of european ancestry, who had traditionally enjoyed superior political and economic status. Since 1996, government has transferred a considerable amount of land and settled nearly. How south africa should tackle the redistribution of land in urban areas editions. Section two is a discussion of the basic components and procedures of the land restitution programme and focuses on the restitution of land rights act 22 of 1994, the commission for the restitution of land rights and the land claims court. Land expropriation without compensation the loaded term which elicits varied fervent responses from the south african public.
Disclaimer this report was financed by dfiduk as part of their aid programme to the government of south africa. Land redistribution is a constitutionally mandated function of government. Land reform in south africa is a moral, social and economic imperative. This paper provides an overview of land reform in south africa from 1994 to 2011, with the focus on the land redistribution. The case of the land redistribution for agricultural development lrad programme in limpopo. 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 a fact that 79% of land in south africa is privately owned, but a large portion of this ownership is in the form of trusts, companies and traditional authorities, only 39% can be traced to private individuals. The natives land act of 19 engineered the poverty of. Reclaiming this land became an important rallying cry for liberation movements in both countries. Land redistribution in south africa who gets land and how. South africa was the th largest supplier of food to the emirates, according to south african government figures, and this is likely to. The bigger unresolved issue of land reform in the 21st century is the need to confront the overwhelming threat of ecological collapse. Under colonialism and apartheid, the ruling white minority stole vast amounts of land from black africans in zimbabwe and south africa. In south africa, tenure reform is a component of a national land reform programme which also embraces the restitution of land, to people dispossessed by racially discriminatory laws or practices, and land redistribution to the poor.
Namibia, on the other hand, offers a more promising contrast. Government will continue to accelerate the pace of land reform within the framework of the constitution of the republic of south africa, respective legislation and according to the rule of law. Redistributive land reform in southern africa overseas. South africa suffered a long history of colonization, racial domination and land dispossession that resulted in the bulk of the agricultural land being owned by a white minority. Why land reform is a key issue in south african elections. Processes to transfer land land redistribution and land restitution are the two primary mechanisms the government has used to transfer formerly whiteowned farmlands into black ownership. South africa, and to what degree is a preference for. South africans prioritize land taken in forced removals, support willing seller approach afrobarometer dispatch no. Discussing the issues at the heart of the land question in south africa, this reference focuses on how to reverse the dispossessed land of the indigenous peoples and how a largescale redistribution of land can contribute to the transformation of the economy and the reduction of poverty, both rural, and urban.
Land reform in south africa is an emotive, complex, and important issue, and it. Barriers to participation of the poor in south africas. However, the views contained in this report are those of the consultant. The land reform and redistribution in south africa is a serious concern for the ruling government and must be resolved in a suitable manner. 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. Request pdf redistribution, restitution and reform. Land settlement and agriculture in mopani district, limpopo, 19th century to 2015 michelle hay a thesis submitted to the faculty of humanities, university of the witwatersrand, johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of doctor of philosophy. Government will at all times act in the best interest of our nation. Two main questions how well do taxes and spending in south. Redistribution is the most important component of land reform in south africa. 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. Aug 15, 20 english news and press release on south africa about.
Based on a framework of historical institutionalism, the heritage of a distributional regime based on institutional racism is. However, the report also points to some of the realities associated with the complex land issue in south africa. From the time that white settlers arrived in south africa black people faced increasing landlessness, poverty, and insecurity on the land due to racial laws. Does customary law go far enough to address the problem of land redistribution. South africa begins seizing whiteowned farms washington. 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. The natives land act of 19 engineered the poverty of black. Thus far, constitutional powers of expropriation have not been used in pursuit of land redistribution. South africas land reform efforts lack a focus on struggling. Introduction the skewed distribution of land ownership along racial lines within the countries of southern africa is well known.
The land debate looks at what government has done to address land reform in south africa since the country became a democracy in 1994. President donald trump touched off a diplomatic row with south africa by repeating an erroneous broadcast about land reform there. Aug 02, 2018 in south africa, however, the government has moved one step closer to issuing a controversial form of reparations in an attempt to make up for the effects of colonization and apartheid in the country. South africas land reform in historical perspective. Land redistribution for agricultural development 2 equity schemes participants can make the requisite matching own contribution, and receive equity in an agricultural enterprise tantamount to the value of the grant plus the own contribution.
Land reform, redistribution and access are therefore key issues that still need attention in south africa. Why south africas govt plans to strip land from white. Trumps tweets incorrectly suggest that the land distribution process in south africa is disorderly and unlawful. With parliamentary processes ready to resume in 2019, the issue of land expropriation in south africa enters its final constitutional hurdle. Land redistribution in south africa parliament of south. 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. South africa should speed up the redistribution of land to the black majority. South africa s constitution covers the matter in section 25. In 19, south africas land act set aside 87% of the countrys land for. Land expropriation without compensation the loaded term which elicits varied fervent responses from the south african public will, once again, prove its sociopolitical impetus in 2019. Land redistribution in south africa 169 edward lahiff. 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. 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. As in other societies, access to land is vital for socialcultural sustainability, improved livelihoods and economic development.
Second, agriculture in south africa constitutes less than three per cent of gdp although rural south africa is home to a disproportionately large landless, unemployed and impoverished population. Land reform in south africa was established by the government with the view that redistribution of farmland would make a significant contribution to poverty alleviation. The challenge of poverty is a disturbing reality in south africa. Dec 06, 2016 south africas land reform efforts lack a focus on struggling farmers. Based on a framework of historical institutionalism, the heritage of a distributional regime based on institutional racism is highlighted. Impact of land redistribution on consumption in south africa. An earlier chapter recasts the history of apartheid pass laws, showing how vagrancy laws were one piece of a continuum that. The land question in south africa debates these issues against the backdrop of a land reform programme that made limited headway in the first decade of south africas democracy. If black people who knows nothing about farming suddenly take over the farms the country will either starve or the. Because under the terms of lrad, the grant is intended. Prospects for the land in the eastern cape province, south africa south africas history has left the country with a complex, racially. Solving africa s land issues to boost productivity, alleviate poverty and eradicate hunger. Land policy proposals south african history online.
Land reform and redistribution in south africa guardian. This is a marked shift in policy, and comes at a time when land reform through both. Glu social policies and redistribution in south africa iii abstract this paper aims at analyzing the effects of social policies on income inequalities in south africa since the 1990s. Why south africas land reform agenda is stuck south africa.
Why south africa s govt plans to strip land from white farmers 1 mar, 2018 12. This brief discusses experiences with the three major phases of land redistribution policy and practice in south africa. Section seven is a brief inquiry into land redistribution options used internationally but that were not used in south africa. This is particularly true for south africa, where the racial policies of apartheid and agricultural policies aimed. Land redistribution in south africa parliament of south africa. The afrikaners who farmed for generations are masters of their art and they are benificial to the economy. Programme for land and agrarian studies, university of the western cape. Jan 18, 2014 since 1994, under the nelson mandela government, land reform and redistribution in south africa remained a serious matter for the government to implement. South african farmers fear forced land redistribution the. Land reform in south africa is sinking nelson mandela foundation. The perils of land redistribution are seen in the program carried out by thenzimbabwean president robert mugabe in the late. Initially, land was bought from its owners willing seller by the government willing buyer and redistributed, in order to maintain public confidence in the land market. It is easy, at events like this, to roll out a wish list of what land reform should achieve and who it.
The newlyelected south african government began in 1994 to make laws and implement a programme for land reform. Johannesburg south africa s new president, cyril ramaphosa, has been forced to move on the thorny issue of largescale land redistribution more quickly than he probably would have liked by. What are the advantages and disadvantages of land reform. Africans towards assorted policies of land redistribution and. The larger project examines a number of institutions that shaped the politics of land, economic development, and citizenship in south africa over the last century. Land restitution is one of the key issues since south africa achieved democracy in 1994 and as such an overview of what has been achieved since the promulgation of the restitution of land. Dfiduk is not responsible for or bound by its content. The land dispossession of the indigenous people of south africa under this act caused poverty which is still prevalent in our country today. Twenty two years after the transition to democracy and the commencement of land reform, there is a great deal of lived experience to. Key policy issues in south africas land reform program 34. The book offers a robust assessment of that programme and raises critical questions for its future. Land redistribution in zimbabwe 7 simon pazvakavambwa and vincent hungwe land redistribution under the colonial state 8 early attempts to redistribute land, 1980 99 141 the fast track land redistribution program, 2000 05151 conclusion 164 note164 references165 6. University of south africa, pretoria, south africa abstract the legacy of socioeconomic injustice which was inherited from the natives land act of 19 continues to haunt the majority of black south africans. 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.