Ernst Roets Sparks Outrage After Threatening To Publish Dirty Secrets About Government’s Land Reform

Dr Ernst Roets, Executive Director of the Lex Libertas think tank, has announced plans to engage directly with South Africa’s Minister of Land Reform, Agriculture and Rural Development over what he describes as racial exclusion in the government’s farmland allocation policies.

Roets revealed on social media platform X that Lex Libertas is preparing to publish a comprehensive report examining alleged racial discrimination in the allocation and leasing of state-owned agricultural land. The report is expected to assess the structural challenges facing South Africa’s land reform programme and propose alternative policies aimed at protecting commercial agriculture, private property rights and rural economic stability.

The announcement follows Roets’ criticism of the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development over its advertised leasing opportunities for state-owned farmland. According to Roets, departmental documentation contains eligibility provisions that prevent white applicants from leasing certain state agricultural properties, regardless of their farming experience, technical qualifications or financial capacity.

He argues that such race-based restrictions raise constitutional concerns, particularly regarding equality before the law and the treatment of applicants seeking access to agricultural opportunities.

Roets has also expressed concern about the potential economic consequences of the policies, arguing that excluding experienced farmers could undermine agricultural productivity and place additional pressure on South Africa’s food security. However, the broader implications of the department’s allocation criteria would need to be assessed against the programme’s objectives, eligibility rules and applicable constitutional provisions.

South Africa’s land reform programme seeks to address the lasting effects of historical land dispossession and unequal land ownership. The government has introduced various initiatives intended to expand access to agricultural land, particularly for historically disadvantaged communities.

The debate surrounding these initiatives has remained contentious, with critics questioning whether certain race-based eligibility requirements are fair or economically sustainable, while supporters of corrective measures argue that targeted interventions are necessary to address longstanding inequalities in land ownership.

Roets has indicated that Lex Libertas intends to use its forthcoming report to press the ministry for policy changes. The organisation advocates political and administrative decentralisation, stronger private property rights and greater decision-making powers for local communities.

He also indicated that the organisation could take its concerns to domestic and international advocacy platforms if engagement with government officials fails to produce the changes it seeks.

The planned engagement could add to the ongoing national debate over land ownership, agricultural transformation and constitutional equality. The department’s response to the allegations, as well as the detailed findings of the forthcoming report, will be important in determining the next steps in the dispute.

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