Progress on land reforms has been far too slow, says Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development Mzwanele Nyhontso.
He was speaking during the handover of 58 title deeds to land reform beneficiaries and farm residents in Bethlehem, Free State on Monday.
“For too long, our Department of Land Reform and Rural Development programs, especially the strategic land acquisition and land development support programs, have been moving at the pace of a tortoise in a race that requires the speed of a cheetah,” he said.
He was accompanied by Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli, who said the transfer was an important step in securing property for communities living and working on land.
Recipients of the title deeds include farmers whose land was transferred under the department’s state land transfer program, and farm residents under the Security of Tenure Expansion Act.
During the event, 48 of the title deeds were for farmers who rented departmental farms for more than ten years, and ten were allocated to farm residents.
“We have farmers who have the patience and the skills, but they are still suffocated by red tape and red tape,” Nyhontso said.
Many beneficiaries had settled on the land years ago, but were still waiting for basic infrastructure and support promised by the government.
According to the minister, land acquisition is hampered by high land prices, long-standing legal problems and inefficiencies in the state.
“Frankly, a bureaucracy that seems more interested in filling out forms than fixing farms.”
Nyhontso described delays in processing land applications as “not only an administrative failure, but also an economic crime against our people.”
“We are not just looking for land, but for productive land. We want to ensure that the land we acquire remains a national asset that contributes to GDP and puts food on the table.”
Nyhontso also warned that land without proper post-settlement support is setting beneficiaries up for failure.
“Land without support is a burden, not a blessing. I have heard too many stories where a farmer gets 500 hectares, but not one liter of diesel or one bag of seed. We cannot let our people fail and then wonder why.”
One of the beneficiaries, Nkedi Rapetsoa, who received the title deed of the 720 hectare Ruby Farm on behalf of her family, said the moment was very emotional.
In a video shared on Facebook, Rapetsoa said her family are longtime ranchers who plan to use the land to raise their livestock and farm productively.
“We lived on the farm most of our lives. I was born there. My grandfather was born there,” she said. “Now our property rights have finally been secured. I am so overwhelmed. I feel very happy.”
Mhlauli said the program was not symbolic but aimed at ensuring that land reforms translate into real economic participation.
“The transfer of title represents much more than a legal process. It represents security. It represents opportunity. And it represents a decisive step toward correcting the injustices of our past and building a more inclusive and productive future.”
She said the government was clear that land reforms must include support for sustainable land use.
“Beneficiaries must be given the opportunity to farm, build, invest and create a livelihood for their families and communities. Land must become a productive asset that drives growth, food security and local economic development.”
She said the work is part of broader structural reforms under Operation Vulindlela, a joint initiative of the Presidency and the National Ministry of Finance aimed at accelerating economic growth and inclusive development.
“One of the key priorities under this reform agenda is spatial integration and housing, including eliminating the title backlog and improving access to secure land tenure.”
Mhlauli acknowledged that challenges remain, especially in the areas of post-settlement support, governance, access to finance, infrastructure and market access.
“The government is committed to working with beneficiaries, community property associations, traditional leaders and all stakeholders to ensure the success of land reform,” she said.
In a March 2025 parliamentary response to a question, the Minister of Human Settlements said that at the start of the title deed campaign in October 2023, there were 95,638 unissued title deeds held by municipalities and provinces.
By March 2025, 65,952 title deeds had been issued, giving a success rate of 69% over a 16-month period.
The minister said the remaining backlog is largely related to title deeds that cannot be registered due to planning and compliance errors, including houses built on undeclared land, lack of bulk infrastructure, illegal sales, family disputes and untraceable beneficiaries.
Between 2025 and 2030, the department plans to unlock 368,000 blocked title deeds through Operation Vulindlela by addressing incomplete environmental and planning requirements.
TimesLIVE
Modiegi Mashamaite
www.timeslive.co.za