Property rights in South Africa have reached a critical turning point. The ideological unmasking of President Ramaphosa’s approach to land redistribution, as recently revealed in Harare, has irreversibly damaged the government’s credibility in this matter. It is now clear: the President has not governed for the whole nation, but for a closed group of ideological stakeholders.
The reality of land redistribution
Transformation, BEE and the slogan “the land belongs to the people” have become political rhetoric without substance. These instruments no longer serve the broader public, but instead propel an outdated ideology without statesmanship or insight.
The revelation of the disappearance of R41 quadrillion from the State coffers, as reported by BusinessTech (26 April 2021) and confirmed by Mr Tokyo Sexwale, underlines the scale of mismanagement. These funds could have been used to purchase every farm in South Africa at least 17 times. The pressing question is therefore: who are the real land thieves?
Practice vs. ideology
In a submission to the forthcoming conference, economist Johann Bornman demonstrates that ordinary South Africans, black, coloured, and Indian citizens, have purchased land in their private capacities at the same rate as the State. In restitution cases, cash was often preferred over land, and more than 740 000 hectares have been sold back to white owners. Meanwhile, the government has missed its deadlines, and the courts have had to intervene to restore order.
The government’s response? An emotionally charged attempt to drive Expropriation Without Compensation (EWC), a move now exposed as a political smokescreen and an admission of incapacity.
Property Rights Conference: 9 September 2025
The Conference on Property Rights, hosted by the Ad hoc Committee for the Protection of Property Rights, will take place on Tuesday 9 September 2025. The timing could not be more fitting. Expert speakers will analyse property rights across various countries, and the Property Rights Charter, compiled by TLU SA, will be available for signing. This charter represents not only creative mandates but also international and national values.
TLU SA Congress: 10 September 2025
At its congress on 10 September, TLU SA will take a firm stance on the crisis surrounding property rights. The time has come to expose the government’s tall tales and confront reality: property rights are the key to security, stability, and economic reconstruction. It is regrettable that the Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development, Mzwanele Nyhontso, has not responded to the three invitations sent to him to attend the conference. TLU SA members would have welcomed clarification of his statements.
The people have long been misled. In more than three decades of involvement in the democratic order, the President has never negotiated honestly. Now it is time for South Africans themselves to pull the wagon through the ford. Property rights are not an ideological plaything; they are the foundation of freedom, dignity, and sustainable development.
