Land restitution claims in the Free State confirm: most claimants prefer money over agricultural land

In the Free State, 2917 restitution applications were successful. Only 62 of the successful candidates requested farms, while 2855, or 97,8% opted for monetary compensation. “The land restitution process, while ensuring some material redress for past injustices, has not contributed to land reform. The financial claims and regular urban land grabs indicate that residents of the Free State are desperate for livelihoods and homes, and are more sceptical about obtaining these through commercial agriculture through which profits rely on vast expertise and economies of scale” said Dr Roy Jankielsohn MPL.