South African Youth and Land Reform Policies in South Africa: A Concise Assessment

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Page: 1583-1589

Adam Z. Sibiya, Daniel N. Mlambo, and Livhuwani L. Ndou (Department of Public Management, Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa)

Some of the current social ills facing South Africa may be drawn from the apartheid regime’s destabilization policies dating back as early as 1948 to the late 1990s. The South African Constitution guarantees improved service delivery by addressing some historical injustices through provisions related to property and land rights. Youth participation is crucial in developing effective land reform policies and ensuring their efficient implementation. In South Africa, where the majority of the population is young, the engagement of youth is crucial for ensuring that land reform policy becomes more successful. Young people face challenges in strengthening their influence in decision-making. Many youth activists have reported feeling marginalized and excluded from formal policy-making structures, which are often dominated by older, more experienced politicians and bureaucrats. This lack of meaningful participation can lead to frustration and disillusionment among young people, undermining their ability to effect meaningful change. Assessing the involvement and strength of youth in land reform policy implementation and administration is essential for fostering inclusive, equitable, and sustainable development. Creating spaces and mechanisms that enable youth to engage in land reform actively is essential. It also addresses youth unemployment and rural poverty.