Cartagena de indias: Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso has emphasized that there will be no compromise on the issue of land, which he described as central to the ongoing struggle for genuine social and economic development and the restoration of dignity to millions. He made these remarks while addressing delegates at the International Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ICARRD+20), currently underway in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia.

According to South African Government News Agency, Nyhontso highlighted that land remains at the core of South Africa's democratic project and its unfinished liberation struggle. He asserted that without resolving the land question, issues like climate change and hunger cannot be effectively addressed. The conference, attended by global stakeholders including the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), coincides with South Africa preparing to mark the 49th anniversary of the death of liberation struggle leader Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe in February 2026.

Nyhontso invoked Sobukwe's legacy, emphasizing that land dispossession is central to the oppression of the African majority and national self-determination. He placed South Africa's experience within a broader Global South struggle, highlighting that despite the original ICARRD conference in Porto Alegre affirming equitable access to land as essential for peace and food security, land concentration and marginalisation persist.

In his address, Nyhontso declared that land should not be concentrated in the hands of a few, as it is the foundation of life and collective human survival. He also criticized distortions surrounding South Africa's land reform, particularly narratives alleging a so-called 'white genocide,' dismissing them as misinformation aimed at undermining legitimate redress measures.

Nyhontso pointed out that in regions like Africa, Asia, and Latin America, vital resources such as forests and water sources are being privatised, pushing small-scale food producers and fishers to the margins of society. He argued that a 'just transition' and 'food security' cannot be achieved if land and agriculture remain controlled by multinational corporations.

The Minister highlighted the long history of land dispossession in South Africa, culminating in the 1913 Natives Land Act and the apartheid era, which confined the African majority to only 13% of the land. He noted that this land remains marginal and underdeveloped.

The ICARRD+20 conference, held from 24 to 28 February 2026, provides a platform for governments, social movements, and international organisations to discuss pressing global challenges, including land and water grabbing, climate change vulnerabilities, and the need for redistributive land reform.