The socio-economic impact of land reform on women’s rights to access land in South Africa.
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Date
2024
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Publisher
University of the Western Cape
Abstract
The Minister in the Presidency, Dr. Dlamini-Zuma, stated in her 2018 land reform dialogue that development in the absence of women is bound to be hollow. The purpose of land reform is to create and enhance sustainable development of the people, and without a proper and well-oiled redistribution programme, it will impact negatively on the economic development of the people. This dissertation aims to review the impact and application of legislation when it comes to women’s access to land and ending gender inequalities. Property is a broad concept that includes the right of access to land for agricultural and residential purposes. This dissertation will therefore outline the challenges facing women in accessing land, considering the historical context of legislations and its impact on South Africa. It will unpack what international legal frameworks say on inequalities and women’s rights to access land. Most of the country’s landless population are poor women, so an effective land reform programme must recognise the centrality of women’s needs and interests. The dissertation will examine the advancement of women’s land rights from 1994 to date. Land reform is one of the many priorities of the post-apartheid government in South Africa, but the question is whether land reform has been beneficial to black women, the most marginalised group in society. The paper further aims to look at the socioeconomic impact of land reform on black women in South Africa.
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Keywords
Land Reform, Women’s rights, Socioeconomic rights, Gender-responsive, Economic security