Been there, done that, but is Thoko Didiza the right choice?

Lucas Ledwaba

Early last year South Africans were presented with shocking statistics on the reality of skewed land ownership dynamics through the Land Audit.

The audit outcome was undeniable proof that the ANC government had failed dismally in addressing the pressing issue of land reform and restitution.

Thoko Didiza, who was this week named as the new minister of agriculture, land and rural development spent a good eight years as minister of the same portfolio between 1999 and 2006.

So it won’t be unfair to say Didiza was part of the failure that has resulted in the brewing discontent over the slow pace of land reform and restitution that has seen political parties clamber to change the Constitution with the hope of speeding up settlement of the issue in recent years.

The Land Audit found that although black South Africans made up 79% of the population they only enjoyed 1.2%