Land reform in South Africa: A status report 2008

Abstract

After 14 years of democracy in South Africa,
\nthere is agreement across the political and social
\nspectrum that the state’s programme of land
\nreform is in severe difficulties. Almost since its
\ninception, the programme has been criticised for
\nfailing to reach its targets or deliver on its multiple
\nobjectives of historical redress, redistribution
\nof wealth and opportunities, and economic
\ngrowth. Particular weaknesses – highlighted by
\nits political supporters and opponents alike – include
\nthe slow pace of land redistribution, the
\nfailure to impact significantly on the land tenure
\nsystems prevailing on commercial farms and in
\nthe communal areas, and the widespread perception
\nthat what redistribution of land has taken
\nplace has not been translated into improvements
\nin agricultural productivity or livelihood
\nbenefits for the majority of participants. Nevertheless,
\ndespite much political hand-wringing
\nand some changes in direction, the policy fundamentals
\nremain largely unchanged from the
\nformula that was put in place at the time of the
\ntransition to democracy. Of particular interest,
\ntherefore, is not so much the chronic underperformance
\nof a policy area that many saw as critical
\nto post-apartheid transformation, but the
\nability of the government to persist for so long
\nwith an approach that enjoys so little popular
\nsupport and is clearly failing to deliver on its
\nostensible objectives.