Reforming communal land tenure in South Africa – Why land titling is not the answer
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Date
2002
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies, University of the Western Cape
Abstract
The long-awaited draft Communal Land Rights Bill sets out government’s proposals to
resolve urgent land tenure problems in the former ‘homeland’ areas, where most rural
South Africans still live, and where land is registered in the name of the state. These
problems derive from lack of adequate legal recognition of communal tenure systems,
abuse by powerful elites, breakdown of the old permit-based system, and gender
inequalities.
They result in conflicting claims to land and bitter disputes over authority. Development
efforts are severely constrained by lack of clarity on land rights, and the tensions that
result. Tenure insecurity also results from the forced overcrowding of these areas under
apartheid. This means that de facto rights often overlap and are in conflict.
Description
Keywords
Communal Land Rights Bill, Communal land tenure, Land titling, Rural, Tenure insecurity
Citation
Cousins, B. (2002). Reforming communal land tenure in South Africa – Why land titling is not the answer. Policy Submissions, Bellville: Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies, University of the Western Cape.