South Africa’s Deputy President, Paul Mashatile, has called for renewed commitment to resolving the nation’s long-standing land reform challenge, framing the issue as a moral, constitutional and economic necessity essential for healing the deep scars of dispossession and promoting inclusive development.
Speaking at a gala dinner hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa in the North West Province on Friday, Mashatile reflected on the enduring inequalities rooted in South Africa’s colonial and apartheid history. He emphasised that the unresolved land question continues to shape the nation’s social and economic realities, warning that silence on the matter would only perpetuate injustice and inequality.
According to the 2017 Land Audit, white South Africans still own approximately 72 per cent of private farmland, while black South Africans collectively own around 13 per cent, despite the transfer of roughly 19.3 million hectares since 1994. Mashatile noted that while progress has been made, the pace of reform remains constrained by legal disputes, administrative delays and political contention surrounding expropriation without compensation.
“The history of land dispossession is deeply painful and cannot be ignored,” Mashatile said. “Land reform is not only about restitution; it is about restoring dignity, enabling opportunity and creating a shared sense of responsibility for the future.”
He added that land reform must be coupled with robust support systems to ensure that beneficiaries are able to use the land productively and sustainably. “The true measure of transformation lies not in hectares transferred, but in livelihoods restored and communities empowered,” he stated.
Mashatile’s remarks come amid heightened domestic and international tensions. Within South Africa, organisations such as AfriForum and the Solidarity Movement have lobbied abroad, particularly in the United States, asserting that land reform policies unfairly target minority communities. The South African government has firmly rejected these claims, asserting that its approach to land reform is guided by constitutional principles and the imperative to correct historical imbalances.
The discourse around land reform has also become entangled with broader diplomatic developments. Tensions between Pretoria and Washington have intensified following South Africa’s decision to bring a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, accusing it of genocide in Gaza. The United States subsequently opted to boycott the Group of Twenty summit in Johannesburg last month and has excluded South Africa from its G20-related engagements for 2026.
Observers note that while such geopolitical rifts add complexity to the domestic debate, the core issue of land justice remains distinctly local and deeply human. Analysts argue that South Africa’s efforts must continue to be guided by a vision of equitable development that centres African agency and the restoration of dignity to those historically marginalised.
In reaffirming the government’s commitment, Mashatile underscored that land reform cannot be viewed solely through an economic lens. “It is about reclaiming the humanity and identity that were stripped from generations of South Africans. Our collective responsibility is to ensure that land becomes a foundation for shared prosperity,” he said.
The deputy president’s comments reflect a broader continental sentiment around the rebalancing of ownership, resources and representation. Across Africa, land remains both a source of livelihood and identity, as well as a symbol of sovereignty and justice. South Africa’s ongoing efforts thus form part of a wider African conversation about post-colonial recovery, self-determination and equitable development.
As the nation continues to grapple with the complexities of redistribution, restitution and reconciliation, Mashatile’s call serves as a reminder that land reform is not simply a policy question, but a moral commitment to the unfinished work of transformation.
