Price of land owned by white farmers causing delay to land restitution - Land Reform Minister

Thabo Shole-Mashao, in for Clement Manyathela, speaks to Mzwanele Nyhontso, Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development, about the process of land reform and restitution in the country - 30 years since the Act was made law.

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This year marks three decades since the enactment of the Restitution of Land Rights Act which became a cornerstone of the country's land reform efforts.

The legislation was introduced to address the historical injustices caused by forced removals and land dispossession under apartheid.

"It was meant to address the injustice of land disposition and it was meant to restore the land back to its rightful owners and to address the landless until that happened from 1913 to 1994."

Mzwanele Nyhontso, Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development

"In the past 30 years, this Act is a cause for us to celebrate, because, indeed it has restored millions of hectares to African people."

Mzwanele Nyhontso, Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development

"So far, the state has spent R58 billion on land restitution."

Mzwanele Nyhontso, Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development

But Nyhontso acknowledges that hurdles remain, including bureaucratic delays, which have slowed progress in resolving outstanding land claims.

Speaking to Clement Manyathela back in July, he said his priority within the portfolio would be to address the backlog of land claims.

"My concern is the pace with which we are working."

Mzwanele Nyhontso, Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development

Nyhontso says the problems largely rest with white farmers pushing up land prices and making the land unaffordable for government to buy.

"I think the problem is the previous owners, or let me say white farmers, because of that policy that came in 1998 that said willing buyer, willing seller - so what they are doing is putting exorbitant prices on the land so that government is not able to buy it."

Mzwanele Nyhontso, Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development

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