Mzwanele Nyhontso, the Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development, says government will focus on accelerating land redistribution, improving rural development and strengthening land administration systems during the 2026/27 financial year.
Delivering Budget Vote 42 in the National Assembly on 20 May, Nyhontso announced that the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development has been allocated about R10.336 billion for the current financial year as part of a medium-term budget of R32.1 billion. He said the budget seeks to address historical land inequalities, poverty and underdevelopment, particularly in rural communities.
The department acquired approximately 53 000 hectares of land during the reporting period and allocated more than 35 000 hectares to qualifying beneficiaries. Around 20 000 hectares were allocated to women, while 13 000 hectares went to youth beneficiaries. Nyhontso said the department would continue prioritising equitable access to land for women, young people and persons living with disabilities.
Government also transferred nearly 7 000 hectares of land to more than 700 farm dwellers and labour tenants. With the support of the Special Master on Labour Tenants, 61 labour tenant cases were finalised, while more than 300 unresolved matters were referred to court.
Nyhontso further announced plans for a Comprehensive Land Audit aimed at determining land ownership patterns in South Africa, including ownership by race, gender, nationality and business entities. The audit is also expected to clarify how much land belongs to the state and how much has changed ownership since apartheid.
The minister said two key pieces of legislation, the Equitable Access to Land Bill and the Communal Land Tenure and Administration Bill, are expected to be submitted to Cabinet and opened for public consultation by the end of June. The Bills are intended to strengthen land redistribution and improve tenure security in communal areas.
Concerns were also raised about governance challenges affecting Communal Property Associations (CPAs), which manage land restored to communities. During the reporting period, more than 800 CPA executives received governance and financial management training to improve accountability and reduce internal disputes.
On land restitution, Nyhontso said more than 83 700 land claims have been settled since 1995, benefiting nearly 2.4 million people. Government has restored almost 3.9 million hectares of land through the restitution programme.
The department has allocated R630 million for land acquisition and redistribution in the 2026/27 financial year, while a further R388 million will support farming infrastructure and production support through the Land Development Support Programme.
Nyhontso also highlighted plans to modernise land administration through the Electronic Deeds Registration System and improve spatial planning under the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA).
He said despite financial pressures, the department remains committed to implementing land reform and rural development programmes aimed at improving the lives of people in rural and previously disadvantaged communities.Land Reform Department Prioritises Youth, Women and Rural Development in R10.3 Billion Budget
Mzwanele Nyhontso, the Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development, says government will focus on accelerating land redistribution, improving rural development and strengthening land administration systems during the 2026/27 financial year.
Delivering Budget Vote 42 in the National Assembly on 20 May, Nyhontso announced that the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development has been allocated about R10.336 billion for the current financial year as part of a medium-term budget of R32.1 billion. He said the budget seeks to address historical land inequalities, poverty and underdevelopment, particularly in rural communities.
The department acquired approximately 53 000 hectares of land during the reporting period and allocated more than 35 000 hectares to qualifying beneficiaries. Around 20 000 hectares were allocated to women, while 13 000 hectares went to youth beneficiaries. Nyhontso said the department would continue prioritising equitable access to land for women, young people and persons living with disabilities.
Government also transferred nearly 7 000 hectares of land to more than 700 farm dwellers and labour tenants. With the support of the Special Master on Labour Tenants, 61 labour tenant cases were finalised, while more than 300 unresolved matters were referred to court.
Nyhontso further announced plans for a Comprehensive Land Audit aimed at determining land ownership patterns in South Africa, including ownership by race, gender, nationality and business entities. The audit is also expected to clarify how much land belongs to the state and how much has changed ownership since apartheid.
The minister said two key pieces of legislation, the Equitable Access to Land Bill and the Communal Land Tenure and Administration Bill, are expected to be submitted to Cabinet and opened for public consultation by the end of June. The Bills are intended to strengthen land redistribution and improve tenure security in communal areas.
Concerns were also raised about governance challenges affecting Communal Property Associations (CPAs), which manage land restored to communities. During the reporting period, more than 800 CPA executives received governance and financial management training to improve accountability and reduce internal disputes.
On land restitution, Nyhontso said more than 83 700 land claims have been settled since 1995, benefiting nearly 2.4 million people. Government has restored almost 3.9 million hectares of land through the restitution programme.
The department has allocated R630 million for land acquisition and redistribution in the 2026/27 financial year, while a further R388 million will support farming infrastructure and production support through the Land Development Support Programme.
Nyhontso also highlighted plans to modernise land administration through the Electronic Deeds Registration System and improve spatial planning under the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA).
He said despite financial pressures, the department remains committed to implementing land reform and rural development programmes aimed at improving the lives of people in rural and previously disadvantaged communities.
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