Agrarian question in South Africa :an evaluation study of the land redistribution for agricultural development (LRAD) programme in selected areas of the Buffalo City

Abstract

This study is based on the view that the ‘agrarian question of the dispossessed’ is not yet resolved in South Africa. Since the early ‘90s, the South African government embarked on a land reform programme that was meant to contribute towards the creation of a better life for the historically dispossessed individuals. Land was given to land reform beneficiaries as grants. However, according to suggestions made by non-governmental organizations, community-based groups and the media, the land reform programme has generally not had any impact and that farms/projects assisted have either collapsed or are not functioning to the levels expected. This is the main reason why the study is conducted: to examine factors that explain why the agrarian question is not yet resolved in South Africa. The purpose is to bring about corrective measures which would result in stopping the wastage of funds that could be better utilized elsewhere. This study is based on the view that the ‘agrarian question of the dispossessed’ is not yet resolved in South Africa. Since the early ‘90s, the South African government embarked on a land reform programme that was meant to contribute towards the creation of a better life for the historically dispossessed individuals. Land was given to land reform beneficiaries as grants. However, according to suggestions made by non-governmental organizations, community-based groups and the media, the land reform programme has generally not had any impact and that farms/projects assisted have either collapsed or are not functioning to the levels expected. This is the main reason why the study is conducted: to examine factors that explain why the agrarian question is not yet resolved in South Africa. The purpose is to bring about corrective measures which would result in stopping the wastage of funds that could be better utilized elsewhere. Qualitative methods were used to collect data using semi-structured interviews from land reform beneficiaries in nineteen farms/projects of the Amathole/ Buffalo City as well as from government officials who implement the programmes. The main findings reflect that the major failure of these projects is because the people who are responsible for implementing the programme lack the capacity to handle a programme of this magnitude. It was also found that there is a serious lack of an integrated approach to development in the planning and implementation of the programme. The study, therefore, recommends that a new structure be set up, that would be able to facilitate and co-ordinate the whole programme. For such a structure to succeed, it would have to have political authority and adopt land reform strategies that have worked in other countries that were previously faced with similar challenges.