Land Matters and Rural Development: 2023
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25159/2522-6800/17506Keywords:
land reform, redistribution, tenure reform, restitution, housing, unlawful occupation of land eviction, rural development and land reform, deeds and registries, land court, traditional courts, traditional and Khoi-San constructsAbstract
The most important land-related developments in 2023 are set out. Interesting and important developments took place within the policy, legislative and case law contexts. In this regard, the urgent need for land—suitable for residential and agricultural purposes—was again underscored. Unlawful occupation of land and corresponding eviction within urban areas continued, underscoring the need for policy initiatives like the Draft White Paper for Human Settlements. In the context of rural areas, the eviction of occupiers on farmland continued. The note deals with redistribution, restitution and tenure reform developments in the land reform arena, coupled with developments relating to new courts, deeds and registries, housing generally and traditional and Khoi-San authority constructs.
References
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Case Law
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Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development v Ndumo (obo Emdwebu Community) [2023] ZASCA 136 (19 October 2023).
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Legislation
Black Administration Act 38 of 1927.
Chiefs Courts Act 6 of 1983 (Transkei).
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Communal Property Association Act 28 of 1996.
Deeds Registries Act 47 of 1937.
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Extension of Security of Tenure Act 62 of 1997.
Housing Act 107 of 1997.
Interim Protection of Informal Land Rights Act 31 of 1996.
Land Courts Act 6 of 2023.
Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act 19 of 1998.
Regional Authorities Courts Act 13 of 1982 (Transkei).
Restitution of Land Rights Act 22 of 1994.
Restitution of Land Rights Amendment Act 15 of 2014.
Upgrading of Land Tenure Rights Act 112 of 1991.
Social Housing Act 16 of 2008.
Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act 3 of 2019.
Traditional Courts Act 9 of 2022.
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