September 2020: Youth Perspective on Land Reform (in partnership with Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung.)

The debate on land reform in South Africa has been one of the most heated policy debates of recent times. This debate, often termed “the land question” or even “the national question” has been a longstanding feature in South African politics.

The research report explores youth’s awareness and views on land–related policy, from the local to the national level. The research report focuses on the views of youth and how they relate to the land question. This angle is key for many reasons. Youth make up a majority of South Africa’s population and will be affected by the long–term effects of land reform policy. Also, it has been the youth–focused political entities (such as the African National Congress Youth League), Pan African Student’s Movement of Azania, and youth– dominated political parties, like the Economic Freedom Fighters that have made the loudest calls for policies such as expropriation without compensation.

The report approaches the land question from three interpretations: land as agriculture, land as mining and land as accommodation and housing.

Finally, the report places emphasis on how young people have, and are organising for their rights to improve their lives and livelihoods. Young people may organise within formal movements and organisations, or through informal action and spontaneous initiative.