State land alone is simply not enough to redress land reform. In a country where the majority of the population is black – it is a bitter pill to swallow that only 1-2% of black farmers operate in the commercial space, writes Keamogetse Kgomanyane.
These are just some of the hard, yet sobering truths noted by the Advisory Panel on Land Reform as it traversed the country in its quest to develop a comprehensive policy perspective that will drive land reform in the country.
The panel, which was appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa, supports the InterMinisterial Committee (IMC) on Land Reform, which is chaired by Deputy President David Mabuza.
It is tasked with the review, research and proposal of models for government to implement a fair and equitable land reform process.
In light of the South African context that is marred with colonial land dispossession, a spanner is thrown in the works of the panel as the land reform process must redress the injustices of the past, increase agricultural output, promote economic growth and protect
food security.
With a deadline to submit its policy perspective to the IMC by 15 March 2019, it is clear there is no easy and uniform solution to land reform.
That’s according to the Advisory Panel’s chairperson, Dr Vuyokazi Mahlati.
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