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Editor's note
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What has South Africa achieved since its citizens first cast their votes in free and fair elections 24 years ago? For some, the promise of democracy leaves much to be desired. As Vashna Jagarnath argues, most South Africans have not had their aspirations fulfilled and that only revolutionary change, can deliver real freedom. But David Everatt believes the country is on the verge
of turning the corner, contending that Cyril Ramaphosa’s ascendency to the presidency means that South Africans can dare to dream again. For her part, Susan Booysen argues that freedom in the South African mould is an exhilarating and promising process that’s still in the making.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday. The trip to Washington should be used to reset Nigeria-US relations, particularly after the fallout from Trump’s reference to ‘shithole’ countries in Africa. David Kiwuwa breaks down some of the issues likely to be raised during the visit.
As the country marks Freedom Day, this special selection of articles features experts who dissect the subject from various angles Skewed land rights is sensitive and divisive issue in most developing countries. In South Africa the subject has a particular sensitivity given the country’s colonial as well as apartheid legacies. There’s general admission that the government led by the African National Congress since 1994 has done woefully little to return land to those who were driven off it under apartheid and colonial rule. Debates have taken on new intensity
following proposals by the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters that land should be redistributed without compensation.
As policy makers cast around for solutions, Quinton Johnson suggests a 10-point plan that could help accelerate land restitution in the country. Ben Cousins explains why small and middle range farmers can play a critical role but aren’t sufficiently supported while Mnqobi Ngubane talks to an aspirant young black farmer about the challenges he’s facing getting started. Lastly Fred Morton examines the case of the Batswana and explains why the task of identifying land ownership going back more than a century is a major challenge.
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Thabo Leshilo
Politics + Society Editor
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Top story
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Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to meet Donald Trump in Washington.
Michael Reynolds/EPA
David E Kiwuwa, University of Nottingham
US President Donald Trump will have an opportunity to showcase his "deep respect" for Africa when his Nigerian counterpart visits.
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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Quiet, but decisive action.
EPA-EFE/Andy Rain
David Everatt, University of the Witwatersrand
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s term in office so far, makes it seem that South Africa can hope and dream again. That’s quite a gift for Freedom Day.
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Politics + Society
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Vashna Jagarnath, University of Johannesburg
The removal of Jacob Zuma from power is to be welcomed but, it's not the answer to South Africa's problems.
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Susan Booysen, University of the Witwatersrand
South Africa marks 24 years of freedom amid continuous contests over over governance, economic justice as well as reconciliation and inclusion.
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Land reform
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Fred Morton, University of Botswana
In practice, land expropriation in South Africa will be a matter of deciding which descendants of the dispossessed are entitled to it.
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Ben Cousins, University of the Western Cape; Ruth Hall, University of the Western Cape
There is very little clarity as to who owns what land in South Africa. A lack of reliable data and statistics doesn't help.
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Mnqobi Ngubane, University of the Western Cape
South Africa's land reform process will fail if it continues to neglect small and emerging black farmers.
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Sonwabile Mnwana, University of Fort Hare
Some communities on South Africa's Platinum Belt have received substantial mining revenues, but these are controlled by chiefs.
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Ben Cousins, University of the Western Cape
South Africa's land policy is flailing around in the dark, with the haziest of understandings of how well or how badly land reform is doing.
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Ben Cousins, University of the Western Cape
South Africa's land reform programme will fail if it continues to neglect smallholder farming.
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Quinton Johnson, Nelson Mandela University
After South Africa's first democratic election in 1994, the previously oppressed and dispossessed black majority hoped for constitutional restitution of their land. This has largely failed.
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Ben Cousins, University of the Western Cape
The conventional view is that insecurity of land tenure results from the lack of a registered title deed which records the property rights of occupants of land or housing.
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Leslie J. Bank, Human Sciences Research Council; Tim GB Hart, Human Sciences Research Council
South Africa should review its rural development strategy and land reform policy to win the fight against rising poverty.
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Robert Scholes, University of the Witwatersrand
The ecological needs of the land need to be considered together with the social and political needs of its people.
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From our international editions
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Andreas Johansson, Lund University
Fed by colonialism, civil war and online hate speech, Buddhist extremism in Sri Lanka has been on the march for decades.
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Mark Serreze, University of Colorado
Climate change is transforming the Arctic, with impacts on the rest of the planet. A geographer explains why he once doubted that human actions were causing such shifts, and what changed his mind.
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