Minister Nyhontso presents R9.8 billion budget for land reform and rural development

Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso on Tuesday said the implementation of a meaningful land reform program required a coordinated approach to enhance integrated and sustainable interventions.

Nyhontso said the department’s 2025/26 budget was a commitment to redress equitable access to land for all and to improve the lives of people, especially those residing in rural areas.

“Land is a foundation of identity, dignity, and economic prosperity. Land is a key component of the factors of production.

"Therefore, without land, any aspiration of social economic development remains just that- aspirations,” he said.

The minister also said land reform was an engine for propelling inclusive growth and for reducing poverty and unemployment.

“It is therefore with this in mind that we welcome the current trend of convergence in the national discourse on the land question among those of us who suffer dispositions and oppression.”

Nyhontso sang praises to the Inter-Ministerial Committee of Land Reform led by Deputy President Paul Mashatile in coordinating various efforts to avoid overlapping and duplication of functions related to land reform.

“This will enable us to accelerate efforts to address the land question of historical dispossessed communities and to support the poor."

He said among the top priorities he has been driving since he assumed office was the development of equitable access to land.

“We will encourage South Africans to participate in the development of these historic pieces of legislation as they will redefine the legislative framework for access to land and on equitable basis.

“I have no doubt that this will be a subject of discussion during the National Dialogue. We are on record in a number of forums as having emphasised that the delivery of land and the provision of support to the beneficiaries of all land reform programs are two sides of the same coin.”

He said a particular focus since taking office was to address the phenomenon of poor performance of land reform projects and inadequate pre-and post-settlement support for beneficiaries.

“Indeed, this is a concern that has also been raised by a range of stakeholders.”

Nyhontso said the overall budget of the department was R9.820 billion with land tenure reform and restitution receiving the largest share amounting to R6.168 billion of the total allocation.

“This demonstrates that our budget is grounded on our core mandate.”

He also said the land redistribution and tenure reform branch has been allocated R1.073 billion.

“With this budget, a total allocation of R559 million has been set aside to acquire and allocate 44, 000 hectares of land.”

Nyhontso said his department continued to process applications for hectares of land to labour tenants.

“It should be acknowledged though that the area of tenure security for labour tenants, including the continuing spread of illegal evictions, remains an unacceptable situation.”

He added the department was implementing a comprehensive plan to address historical inefficiencies relating to the management of state land, including calls for accountability from some reluctant officials and ensuring consequence management.

“Our department is also addressing the challenges related to communal property associations (CPAs), particularly their dysfunctionality. To address this challenge, the department is implementing measures that include the establishment of an independent CPA office.”

Nyhontso said additional financial and human resource will be required to enhance the efficiency of the offices of the Land Claims Commission in the whole of the country. 

He added that land administration has received R792.3 million of the budget.

The Ingonyama Trust and the Office of the Valuer-General have been allocated amounts of R22.847 million and R65.40 million respectively.

mayibongwe.maqhna@inl.co.za