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Can government flip 25 million hectares in six years?

12 September 2008 Gareth Stokes

One of the most sensitive issues in modern-day South Africa is that of land. We’ve had to find ways to address the legacy of the Apartheid government’s separate development policy, which saw sections of the population forcibly removed and re-settled. And

Obsessed with targets; but at what cost?

They have two options. One is to continue the land reform process within the parameters already defined; but with a dash of speed. The ‘willing buyer willing seller’ policy that’s been applied thus far remains the most sensible option. The second is to drop the current obsession with the 2014 deadline and continue with land reform at a steady pace, even shifting the deadline to 2025 or beyond.

It looks like money could be the limiting factor. According to the Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs an extra R74bn will be required over the next five years to meet the 2014 deadline. Land Affairs DG Thozi Gwanya says “At the current levels of funding it may take us until 2025 to deliver the 30% we have agreed to as a nation.” His sentiments were similar to those expressed at a recent Parliamentary Committee meeting to discuss the Department of Land Affairs 2008/2009 Strategic Plan and Budget. Presenters complained about the “chronic mismatch between the ambitious goals of land reform and the funds and institutional capacity devoted to it…”

We doubt, however, that throwing more money at the problem will deliver the desired outcome. Only 37.5% of the capital budget for land reform was allocated in the latest financial period. And operating budgets (including staffing) were only partially utilised – Restitution used only 38% and Land Reform a disappointing 22%. We don’t think the entire land reform budget has been used in any of the last few years. There’s no way government will stump up another R74bn over five years given their commitment to other feats of social engineering, including a National Social Security System and National Health Insurance. The Department of Land Affairs should simply shift the target out – take an extra decade – and redistribute land in a sensible and sustainable manner!

And stop telling investors to get knotted

Of major concern is that more than a decade into the programme government is unable to provide concrete statistics on the success or failure of the communities farming on the land already handed over. After pumping billions of taxpayers’ money into the process they cannot even show us what we’ve bought. For Gwanya to say at this late stage that a critical challenge to the process is the support given to new farmers is an absolute sham! Support structures should have been implemented properly before the first piece of land was handed over. Each and every citizen of this country is done a disservice when an economically productive piece of farmland is turned to dust.

And while they’re about it they should shelve the very frightening amendments to the Land Expropriation Bill for good. Government may have put the document on the back burner in August; but we expect the issue of land expropriation to emerge strongly again once the new ANC dispensation settles into Parliament. Some of the proposed amendments are extremely dangerous, challenging land ownership rights and making it more difficult to attract foreign direct investment.

Some good news for the land reform process is the introduction of another piece of legislation which would allow the government to compensate farmers for equipment on the farms. This would go a long way in assisting the new farm owners in running their properties. It’s pointless to hand over a productive farm to a community without the means of operating it.

Editor’s thoughts:
Land reform remains a sensitive issue; but it’s in South Africa’s interests to resolve disputes without going the route of our northern neighbour, Zimbabwe. Should government try to complete its redistribution programme by 2014 or should they rather shift the completion date to 2025? Add your comments below, or send them to gareth@fanews.co.za

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