South Africa: Land reform requires 'big spending'

The government’s land reform programme requires big spending, close to R2-billion a year. But the total budget for the Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs was less than R2-billion this year. A massive R13-billion is needed next year to meet President Thabo Mbeki’s restitution deadline at the end of next year, where land or cash compensation is given to communities dispossessed during the apartheid years.