Restituted land affords young people new opportunities in country's land reform programme

In South Africa, where youth unemployment remains stubbornly high, reaching over 45% of people between the ages of 15 and 34 years, the land reform programme is quietly emerging as a source of employment and plays an important role in economic development.

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The story of land reform is taking a positive turn, with some pockets of successes unfolding where young people are leveraging restituted land as a strategy for employment creation and economic transformation.

From restituted land transferred to Barokologadi community in North West to Giba CPA and Coromandel Trust in Mpumalanga, young people are finding their place on restituted land and seizing opportunities created within the country's land reform programme.

“Land means employment and business opportunities,” says 32-year-old Bheki Mlaudzi, a youth administrator and beneficiary of the Giba CPA in Mpumalanga.

Mlaudzi has worked on the Giba CPA's restituted land for over a decade, tending to irrigation systems and participating in large-scale banana, ginger, and macadamia farming projects.

Mlaudzi shares that in 2020, the ginger venture thrived due to Covid-19 pandemic - as there was a strong demand for it. “It was a great experience to be exposed to such an opportunity for learning,” he said.

Mlaudzi and other young people have also been receiving training through Vumelana's capacity building programmes being run by Sisata Advisory. They have undergone training focusing on both crop and livestock farming, and other government-supported mixed farming projects.