It’s tough to know where to begin when nailing down the things that got people most in a tizz post-SONA. There was the picture of the female EFF member with facial bruising, we were subjected to constant giggles from Dr. Evil throughout his self-congratulatory speech and those playing the ‘Drink when someone interrupts JZ’ game were out of booze within 15 minutes.

In amongst all the lies, more lies and statistics there was one thing that seemed to irk many though…foreigners will not be allowed to own land in South Africa. Cue cries of ‘the next Zimbabwe’, but what does this actually mean?

Out-of-towners can still live in amongst us but they cannot actually own the land on which they live. Instead they can only apply for a long-term lease from the government, the details of which still seem to be a little sketchy.

What of the land reform we have been hearing about then? fin24 reports:

…the local farmers would be restricted to 12 000 hectare farm holdings…

Zuma also said the office of the Valuer General would be up and running in the year ahead. This would mark the end to the “willing-buyer, willing-seller” process of land reform.

The office would be involved in valuing land for expropriation from farmers…

I think that lays it out pretty clearly. Should you own more than 12 000 hectares you will eventually be told what the extra land is worth and forced to accept the government’s offer.

If anyone somehow made it through last night without drinking the liquor cabinet dry please feel free to send some our way…hard tack preferable.

[source:fin24]