THE slow pace of land reform in South Africa has become a source of mounting frustration for millions, with the Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development, Mzwanele Nyhontso, admitting that the government’s efforts had fallen short of expectations.

This candid admission came during a heated Portfolio Committee meeting on Land Reform and Rural Development, where the Department presented its progress on the proposed Equitable Access to Land Bill.

“It is not only the Nelson Mandela Foundation that is concerned about the slow pace of land reform. Millions of South Africans are frustrated, and many do not have the resources to take the government to court,” Nyhontso said, addressing the committee chaired by the IFP’s Albert Mncwango.

The Minister highlighted the stark reality of land redistribution since 1994, revealing that only 100 000 hectares of land had been redistributed in the Western Cape. “The land redistribution programme is moving at a slow pace,” he conceded, underscoring the urgency for legislative intervention.

The Equitable Access to Land Bill, which seeks to align with Section 25(5) of the Constitution, aims to address this sluggish progress. The Bill mandates the state to take “reasonable legislative and other measures” to ensure citizens gain access to land on an equitable basis.

However, the Department revealed that the Bill was still in its developmental stages, with public comment expected between April and May 2025, Cabinet approval by June, and parliamentary tabling by October this year.

Mr Terries Ndove, Deputy Director-General for Land Redistribution and Tenure Reform, provided an overview of the policy framework underpinning the Bill. He noted the inherent contradiction in the Constitution, which calls for the protection of land rights while mandating the state to ensure equitable access.

“The 1997 White Paper on Land Reform serves as the foundation for our policies, focusing on Sections 25(5), (6), and (7) of the Constitution,” Ndove said. He emphasised the need to address apartheid-era spatial planning, which continues to structure South African cities, and to define land development more broadly to include housing, public services, and economic purposes.

Ndove lamented the Department’s dwindling resources, revealing that funding had been cut by over a billion rand since 2009. “This makes it difficult for the Department to fulfil its land reform programmes,” he said.

The Bill’s proposal to require landowners to register their race to develop reliable data on land ownership sparked fierce debate. The DA’s Mlindi Advent Nhanha criticised the move as a “reckless use of race”, arguing that while land was historically dispossessed along racial lines, using race as a criterion today would perpetuate division.

However, Nyhontso defended the approach, citing Section 25(8) of the Constitution, which allowed for measures to redress past racial discrimination. “We cannot avoid the word race when addressing the land reform programme,” he said.

The ANC’s Sylvia Lucas echoed this sentiment, stating: “Precisely because land was disposed of on racial lines, it is imperative that race is used as an instrument for redistribution, while keeping in view the vision for a non-racial society.”

Members of the Committee unanimously called for a credible land audit to address the lack of reliable data on land ownership. The DA’s Bonginkosi Madikizela pointed out that current statistics only accounted for 35% of privately owned land, ignoring land held by corporations and other entities.

“The main problem with land reform is not legislation but a lack of political will and capacity within the Department,” Madikizela argued.

The ANC’s Rachel Adams sought clarity on the Department’s immediate targets for land redistribution and the principles guiding the process. “What are the implications of the Bill for communal land? When will the five-year implementation plan be developed?” she asked.

Nyhontso issued a stark warning about the consequences of failing to address the land question. “Failure to resolve this issue will lead to ordinary people taking land by themselves, resulting in a leaderless land revolution,” he said.

The Minister’s words underscored the urgency of the matter, as the Department races against time to finalise the Equitable Access to Land Bill. However, with the Bill still in its drafting stages and facing multiple hurdles before reaching Parliament, the question remains: will South Africa see meaningful land reform in our lifetime, or will frustration boil over into unrest?

As the meeting adjourned, the Committee prepared for an oversight visit to KwaZulu-Natal, where the realities of land reform will be laid bare. For now, the promise of equitable access to land remains just that—a promise, delayed yet again.

#political-will

Minister admits frustration over delays in equitable access to Land Bill