Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso says the government does not have updated statistics on land owned by foreign nationals, with the latest available audit showing that they owned 0.56% of South Africa’s total land area.
Nyhontso was responding to a parliamentary question from African Transformation Movement (ATM) MP and leader Vuyo Zungula, who asked what percentage of land in the country was owned by foreign nationals and foreign-owned corporations.
“There are currently no updated statistics available. The most recent available information is from the 2017 Land Audit conducted by the Department,” Nyhontso said.
Zungula criticised the lack of updated information, pointing out that the latest audit was conducted almost a decade ago.
“Almost a decade later, and Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso still does not know who owns South Africa’s land,” Zungula said.
He said the lack of updated figures was concerning given that land reform remained one of the country’s most contested issues.
“The Audit could determine nationality only for land registered in the names of individuals and could not determine foreign ownership of land registered to companies, trusts and other juristic persons,” Nyhontso said.
Foreign nationals own 789,932 hectares
According to the 2017 Land Audit, foreign nationals owned 789,932 hectares, accounting for 0.56% of the total land area of the Republic.
The Northern Cape recorded the largest amount of land owned by non-South Africans, at 298,226 hectares, followed by the Western Cape with 117,063 hectares and the Free State with 73,168 hectares.
Limpopo accounted for 70,518 hectares, North West 56,498 hectares, Gauteng 50,977 hectares, the Eastern Cape 48,860 hectares, KwaZulu-Natal 46,658 hectares and Mpumalanga 27,964 hectares.
The department could not determine whether the land was used for agricultural, commercial or residential purposes.
No figure for foreign-owned corporations
Nyhontso said the provincial distribution of land owned by foreign-owned corporations could not be determined, while the department was also unable to establish the land-use classification of such properties.
Zungula also asked whether the government intended introducing legislation or amending existing legislation to restrict or regulate land ownership by foreign nationals and foreign-owned corporations.
Nyhontso said the department was developing legislation to regulate landholding by foreign persons.
The proposed legislation still has to be approved by Cabinet, he said.
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