On the 31st August 2011, the South AfricanMinistry of Rural Development and land Reform released its anticipated greenpaper on Land Reform in the country. The green paper was received with a number of criticisms that focused on the ‘lack of available’ constitution to which thereport should be based on. The issue of land (land ownership and distribution) serves as a function of various economic activities in the country, one of which is housing. The green paper began with a motivation for the need for land reform, based on the radicalization of the rural economy and apartheid, and the suggested processes and establishments that will address the efficacy of the plan. Two points were mentioned as outcomes of the land redistribution: increase in the rural agribusiness and housing. But the green paper didn’t provide sufficient guidance on how housingas an outcome, will be possible. Also issues surrounding infrastructure were not included. The discussion on infrastructure is important in the discussion of land reform, because it almost dictates the uses of the land and determines the value of land, especially when it is hoped that the land will be a financial asset to its new owners.
I hope that the several recommendations and comments will be considered when drafting the actual policy
