The South African land question has not been fully resolved. Various measures have been undertaken since 1994 to deal with redistribution and restitution – and broader land reform, agriculture and agroprocessing – but this has not had much impact. The resolution of the ANC’s 54th National Conference on land unleashed one of the biggest political economy debates since 1994. This should be welcomed. It has generated a vibrant debate throughout society. Over 1.1-million written and oral submissions have been submitted to Parliament’s Constitutional Review Committee during the public hearings held across the country.

The importance of radical land reform cannot be overemphasised. As President Ramaphosa said at the opening of the ANC National Land Workshop held on 19 May 2018: “From its formation, the African National Congress has fought for the return of land to its rightful owners. It has fought for the wealth of the country to be shared, and for the rights of all its people to be shared equally and universally respected. We are meeting here to give effect to the demand that was articulated by our forbears that the land shall be shared among those who work it.” The edited extract of President Ramaphosa’s opening address to the ANC Land Workshop is also published in this Umrabulo edition.