Nelson Mandela Foundation, recently hosted a significant open dialogue on Land Redistribution under the theme ” Why Land Redistribution Matters”. The campaign took place at Constitutional Hill in Braamfontein, on Saturday, 28th March 2026.
The dialogue brought together respected speakers who shared insights on one of South Africa’s most pressing and unresolved issues.
- Dr. Mbongiseni Buthelezi CEO of Nelson Mandela Foundation
- Advocate Ben Winks
- Dr. Dineo Skosana, Head of society work and politics institute, Wits University
- Siyabonga Mahlangu, General Secretary, Inner City Federation
The South Africa’s Land Policy aims to redress apartheid dispossession through three (3) pillars
- Restitution returning or compensation for for land taken.
- Redistribution ( giving land to the landless)
- Tenure reform ( securing rights/ exproprriation without compensation is debated to speed redress while protecting food, security and investments.
A Call for Urgency
The central aim to the dialogue was to hold the South African government accountable for faster progress on land redistribution. Now, more than 30 years into democracy many citizens particularly black South Africans remain without access to land that was dispossessed during the apartheid era. For many, the dawn of democracy symbolized hope, restoration of dignity, identity and ancestral land. However, this promise remains largely unfulfilled leaving communities still grappling with inequality and limited access to land ownership.
Voices from the Dialogue
Dr. Mbongiseni Buthelezi, CEO of Nelson Mandela Foundation, expressed deep concern about the slow pace of the reform:
“We are more than 30 years into democratic South Africa with the promise of better life for all falling short. The promise that South Africa belongs to all of us, raises the long-standing issue of land reform. We are now finding ourselves in South Africa in a situation where we have stopped been able to hear one another, where all we is to shout at one another, where government, civil society and business are polarised.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation wants to play a constructive role, critical to that, question of leadership, we need leaders who are willing to listen. We need to broaden the circle so that we listen to one another and we leaders act on what people want”.
Similarly, Advocate Ben Winks emphasized the need for innovative thinking:
” We need to think more broadly about solutions to the problems we have struggled to resolve for decades. Access to land is about giving people a place to call home and the ability to build and improve their lives. This dialogue will help us rethink what is possible”.
Land, Dignity, and Constitutional Rights
The foundation highlighted that land redistribution is not only economic issue but also a constitutional and moral imperative. Land represents dignity, justice, and the restoration of historical injustices. The discussion also raised critical questions about the implementation of Section 25(5) of the Constitution, which mandate the state to take reasonable measures to enable citizens to gain equitable access to land.
Part of a Broader Human Rights Conversation
This dialogue formed part of the annual Human Rights Festival, a platform dedicated to addressing key societal challenges. Topics explored during the festival included:
- land reform,
- economic inequality,
- Healthcare,
- water and sanitation,
- education,
- technology,
- governance,
- illegal immigrates
- citizens participation.
The campaign brought together a wide range of stakeholders, creating space for meaningful engagement and the exchange of ideas on how to move South Africa forward.
Public Engagement and Way Forward
The dialogue concluded with a interactive session, allowing attendees to engage directly with the speakers, ask questions, and contribute their perspectives.
While no immediate solutions were finalized, the event reinforced the urgent need for decisive action collaborative thinking, and renewed commitment from both government and society to address land redistribution in a meaningful and transformative way.
Fact: Since the process of Land Restitution started in the mid- 1990’s 83 000 (mostly in cash) claims have been settled. 7000 are unresolved most of which are in court
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