Land reform in South Africa: an appraisal

Abstract

Land-related issues have taken centre stage in socio-political and economic discourse in post-apartheid South Africa. As in other societies, access to land is vital for social–cultural sustainability, improved livelihoods and economic development; hence, the sensitivity of the land reform projects initiated by successive governments. While the South African state has made strides in correcting the unequal ownership patterns inherited from the previous regime, the skewed pattern of land distribution persists, and conflict over land and poverty prevail. Stakeholders in the land reform project have different perspectives. While some advocate for accelerated ‘return’ of land to the original black owners, there are compelling reasons to question the unproductive utility of land that has already been transferred. This article interrogates government performance in the land restitution and redistribution project, assesses the utility of land re-allocated to new owners, and explores the convergence between land reform and persistent poverty. In so doing, it identifies many flaws in the land reform scheme.