Land Reform: Trailblazers
Bertus de Villiers, Marlize van den Berg | Konrad Adeaanuer Stiftung | 2007
‘PLEASE TELL US ABOUT SUCCESSES IN LAND REFORM!’ THIS WAS THE SOMEWHAT DESPERATE CRY FROM A
participant during a recent workshop on land reform. This report is a small step in responding to that
request. (The information contained in this report is current at the time it was received from the
interviewees during October 2005.)
The aim of this report is to provide an overview and brief analysis of the progress made and experience
gained by those involved in the respective case studies. The report is aimed primarily at those who are
closely involved in the land reform process, and in particular previously disadvantaged communities
who have acquired land or who are in the process of acquiring land, and are attempting to manage it
in a sustainable way. We trust they will be encouraged and find hope and guidance in the experiences
of others.
Although each case of land reform is unique, new landowners may learn and take strength from
the experiences of others. We have therefore requested interviewees to identify what they would see
as useful lessons for other communities involved in land reform. Those potential lessons are included
at the end of each chapter.
In discussing the experiences of the respective cases we do not purport to provide a detailed
overview of every aspect of their operations. We are also mindful that a ‘success’ today may run into hardship tomorrow. We can at best provide insight into what happened in a specific case at a specific
point in time.
External circumstances such as drought, deregulation, crime, low commodity prices, labour
unrest, economic decline and scarce resources impact on many farming operations, not just on those
involved in land reform. We therefore admit to being rather subjective by focusing on what appears to
be working.
Sprache | English
Land Reform: Trailblazers