It would be reassuring — in a way — to profess oneself “shocked” at news that the government intends offering for “redistribution” state-owned landholdings that are already being worked successfully by black farmers. (“Farms on Land Reform List Are Already Occupied (https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2020-10-25-farms-on-land-reform-list-are-already-occupied/)”, October 25). Unfortunately, with an understanding of the land-reform malaise, one cannot.

Whether the decision to “redistribute” these lands — and so, to evict these farmers — has come about out of incompetence, indifference or vindictiveness, it follows a pattern of land-reform mismanagement. It is also a predictable consequence of keeping “redistributed” land in state hands, and in effect ruling out private, titled ownership for its beneficiaries...

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