The History of Land Division in South Africa
How was South Africa’s land divided?
In 1913 the government passed the Land Act. This Act decided how the land in South Africa was going to be divided between black and white people. At this time there was no apartheid policy in place, but the government did want to prevent black and white people from mixing together.
When did land claims start in South Africa?
The Land Claims Court was established in 1996. The Land Claims Court specializes in dealing with disputes that arise out of laws that underpin South Africa’s land reform initiative.
How were Africans dispossessed of their land?
The “land question” goes back more than a century to the 1913 Natives Land Act, which provided legislative form to a process of dispossession that had been under way since colonial times. The 1913 Natives Land Act saw thousands of black families forcibly removed from their land by the apartheid government.
Can I still claim land in South Africa?
The Restitution of Land Rights Amendment Act, 2014 extends the date for lodgement of land claims for those who did not claim by the initial deadline of 31 December 1998. The new deadline for the lodgement of land claims is 30 June 2019.
