Christians Call for 'New Vision' of Land Reform in South Africa

Land activists from churches, communities and civil society have called on the South African Government to work with communities to develop a new, more ambitious land reform programme that can ensure that all landless households have access to land, sustainable livelihood and food security.

In June, the South African Council of Churches brought together more than 50 representatives of faith- and community-based land organisations at Kempton Park to share their experiences and to explore new ways of advancing the struggle for land justice in South Africa. The South African Human Rights Commission was also represented at the meeting.

Many participants expressed their disappointment with the lack of progress achieved in implementing the resolutions adopted at the National Land Summit convened by government in July 2005.

Their frustration was exacerbated by the failure of Department of Land Affairs officials to take part in the meeting, despite an earlier commitment to report to delegates.

The meeting heard from a number of communities that have taken their own initiatives to combat poverty and hunger through organic farming and permaculture programmes, "Buy Local" campaigns to develop local markets and recycling/re-use schemes that make more efficient use of natural resources.

Participants also shared their views on the need for more aggressive land redistribution and land reform policies that address the needs of poor and landless households.

The meeting reached consensus on a resolution that called for "more ambitious targets for land reform and redistribution" to ensure that land ownership patterns fully reflect racial demographics by 2020.

Churches, NGOs and communities were also called to engage in critical review of existing legislation and to lobby relevant government ministries and institutions to raise concerns about poor service delivery.

Participants also asked churches to be alert to opportunities to engage traditional leadership around the implementation of land reform, to create platforms for the voices of landless people, and to pay particular attention to gender discrimination in the allocation of land and resources.

The conference urged the South African Government to "halt the eviction of people living on farms until such time as the provisions of ESTA have been reviewed and an alternative dispensation has been developed." It also called for a moratorium in the sale of land to foreigners.

The conference also appealed to the SACC to seek meetings with the Ministers of Land Affairs and Justice, the Commissioner of Police and the South African Human Rights Commission to address a number of the concerns raised in the resolution.

The report of the land conference will be considered at the SACC's triennial National Conference this month.