Chapter 2 The challenge of evidence-based strategy development: Linkages between evidence, policy and practice

3 Assessing the context 3.1 The fit between strategy and the political context 3.1.2 A contested status quo

The strategy development process began with a review of the literature and a status quo assessment of the different dimensions of the Restitution Programme. The approach taken by the Status Quo Report was contested by the Chief Land Claims Commissioner. His overall critique was that the status quo read like an evaluation of the Restitution Programme rather than an assessment of post-settlement support per se. What was made clear was that the public position of the CRLR and that of the Minister remained that the Commission would resolve all community claims on rural land by March 2008. The political imperative to settle claims in line with the Presidential Directive took precedence over the evidence put forward that cautioned that over-hasty legal settlement could compromise the provision of sustainable post-settlement implementation.