Thesis (MPhil (Political Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / This study first discusses, and ultimately compares, the land reform policies of both
South Africa and Namibia, with special reference to the respective histories of land
ownership. An overview of the two countries’ histories of colonial and segregationist
policies are presented to provide the reader with insight into the racially unequal social,
economic and political relations within the case studies concerned. The particular focus
of this study falls on the legal frameworks and the policy developments of land restitution
and the land redistribution policy programmes from the time of the transition to
democracy. South Africa’s and Namibia’s policies are compared, highlighting the
similarities and differences between the two.
South Africa developed a wider land reform policy, which stands on three legs: land
restitution, land redistribution and land tenure reform. The first, land restitution, has been
prioritised by government and has thus far contributed the most to the progress of land
reform. It may also be seen as the beginning of redistribution. Land tenure does not
receive much attention in this study, but the land redistribution programme does.
Progress to date has overall been slower than expected and other stumbling blocks such
as ineffective extension services, bureaucratic ineptitude and ensuring the productive use
of land are not focused on. Government recently indicated that it intends, and has also
taken some steps, to speed up the lagging process of land reform through an increased use
of expropriation. Great criticism against this was voiced by the commercial sector.
South Africa is a constitutional democracy and attempts to redress the injustices of the
past within a legal framework.
Namibia seems to be progressing faster than South Africa in terms of its redistribution
policy. One reason for this could be that the targets are more realistically set. It was
decided that the restitution of ancestral land will not be followed (therefore, redistribution
was not claims-based), but that all previously disadvantaged people will benefit from
land redistribution. A land conference was held immediately after independence in 1991.
Lately, however, momentum on the pursuit of its land reform policy seems to have
subsided.
The conclusion of this study indicates that although there are differences in the respective
countries’ land reform policies, there are significant similarities. The debate between
‘equity’ and ‘production’ becomes even more important in the midst of world food price
increases, a global financial crisis and the ever growing gap between the poor and the
rich. More than a decade after the transition to democracy (amidst the chaotic land
reform process in Zimbabwe), land and ownership remain a contentious issue in both
countries.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/2159 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Vermeulen, Sanet Elenor |
| Contributors | Breytenbach, W. J., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Political Science. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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