Debates around land reform in South Africa: stand of churches and civil society

Affiliation:
Senior Research Fellow, Higher School of Economics
Research Fellow, Institute for African Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS)
Address: Russian Federation, Moscow

Albert D. Khamatshin

Occupation: Research Fellow
Affiliation: Institute for African Studies, RAS
Address: Russian Federation, Moscow

Natalia A. Voronina

Occupation: Junior Research Fellow
Affiliation: Institute for African Studies, RAS
Address: Russian Federation, Moscow

Journal name

Asia and Africa Today

Edition

Issue 2

Pages

36-43

Abstract

The article analyses the debates among the South African establishment on the Land issue and a possible amendment to the Constitution which would enable the government to expropriate land without any financial compensation. It is crucial to note that the Land reform is currently high on the agenda of the South African society, to say the least. Debates on the expropriation of land without compensation were resumed in the country shortly after December 2017 when ANC announced its readiness to reconsider article 25 of the Constitution, the article which stipulates property rights for land. Whereas there is a common understanding in South Africa that the land issue is to be addressed as soon as possible, opinions on how to achieve this goal differ significantly. Proceeding from their field research conducted in South Africa, the authors analyze the stand of the modern church organizations and social movements on the Land reform. The question hanging in the air is whether it is acceptable to expropriate land in order to fix the housing crisis in the South African megalopolises. Also, the article attempts to consider the Land reform as a possible solution to the housing crisis in South Africa. All things considered, the Land reform is a multifaceted issue with too many stakeholders, including government and different social, traditional and religious groups. In a nutshell, the Land reform is a Catch 22 situation where any move could be fraught with serious repercussions.

Keywords

South Africa, Land reform, land expropriation without compensation, civil society, churches

Publication date

25.03.2019

Number of characters

30023

Cite

GOST	Zelenova D., Khamatshin A., Voronina N. Debates around land reform in South Africa: stand of churches and civil society // Asia and Africa Today – 2019. – Issue 2 C. 36-43 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://asaf-today.ru/S032150750003733-8-1 (circulation date: 26.04.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S032150750003733-8
MLA	Zelenova, Daria A., Khamatshin, Albert D., Voronina, Natalia A. "Debates around land reform in South Africa: stand of churches and civil society." Asia and Africa Today 2 (2019):36-43. DOI: 10.31857/S032150750003733-8
APA	Zelenova D., Khamatshin A., Voronina N. (2019). Debates around land reform in South Africa: stand of churches and civil society. Asia and Africa Today (2), pp.36-43 DOI: 10.31857/S032150750003733-8

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