Land reform in South Africa: A status report 2008
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Date
2008
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies, University of the Western Cape
Abstract
After 14 years of democracy in South Africa,
there is agreement across the political and social
spectrum that the state’s programme of land
reform is in severe difficulties. Almost since its
inception, the programme has been criticised for
failing to reach its targets or deliver on its multiple
objectives of historical redress, redistribution
of wealth and opportunities, and economic
growth. Particular weaknesses – highlighted by
its political supporters and opponents alike – include
the slow pace of land redistribution, the
failure to impact significantly on the land tenure
systems prevailing on commercial farms and in
the communal areas, and the widespread perception
that what redistribution of land has taken
place has not been translated into improvements
in agricultural productivity or livelihood
benefits for the majority of participants. Nevertheless,
despite much political hand-wringing
and some changes in direction, the policy fundamentals
remain largely unchanged from the
formula that was put in place at the time of the
transition to democracy. Of particular interest,
therefore, is not so much the chronic underperformance
of a policy area that many saw as critical
to post-apartheid transformation, but the
ability of the government to persist for so long
with an approach that enjoys so little popular
support and is clearly failing to deliver on its
ostensible objectives.
Description
Keywords
Land reform, South Africa, Historical redress, Economic growth, Land redistribution
Citation
Lahiff, E. (2008). Land reform in South Africa: A status report 2008. Research Report 38. Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies, University of the Western Cape