Restitution key to unifying an unequal society – survey

Whether Parliament opts to amend the Constitution or not, research by the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) shows there is a substantial mandate for effective land reform. ‘It is an essential component of a broader project of historical justice, which has yet to be pursued with sufficient urgency in post-apartheid SA,’ says the IJR’s Mikhail Moosa. In an analysis of the IJR's nationwide public opinion survey – 2017 South African Reconciliation Barometer (SARB) – on the News24 site, he notes 64% of South Africans believe land reform can play an important role in addressing inequality. ‘Only 8% of South Africans disagreed that land reform is important to address inequality,’ he says. SARB data reveals that 63% of South Africans agree land reform is important for the reconciliation process in SA. ‘The SARB data shows South Africans want a united nation, and land reform can go some way to unifying an unequal society.’ Moosa says while the SARB survey did not ask questions relating to expropriation or compensation, only around 10% of citizens believe private property should be the sole target of accelerated redistribution. Most South Africans agree both government and privately owned land should be redistributed. Moosa adds: ‘The conversation now needs to shift from asking whether or not accelerated land reform has popular support, to ensure restitution for those who suffered dispossession. An effective programme of land redistribution that extends protections to vulnerable citizens and allows for a more equitable distribution of land could go a long way towards reconciliation.’