Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-x4r87 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T23:07:12.528Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

15 - The South African Landownership Struggle

A Thematic Commentary

from Part III - Sustainable Urban Planning in Africa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 December 2023

Patrick Brandful Cobbinah
Affiliation:
University of Melbourne
Eric Gaisie
Affiliation:
University of Melbourne
Get access

Summary

The historical apartheid dichotomy and its present-day effects in South Africa remain characterised by exclusion and inequality along racial lines, with specific reference to land access. While land redistribution efforts have sought to foster inclusion and equity, the narratives on landownership remain multi-dimensional. This study aimed to determine the underlining narrative themes and potential gaps in research regarding the landownership struggle in South Africa. The methodology includes a bibliometric review to identify keywords, clusters and research trends in relevant publications through VOSviewer (v1.6.17) software. Furthermore, a thematic analysis using NVivo 12 was applied to achieve the research aim. Four clusters were identified, including agricultural production, land reform, the rural economy and poverty reduction, with recent research focused on agricultural land, livelihoods and poverty alleviation. The findings highlighted the continuing inequality in landownership and a gap in research regarding the post-redistribution use of land. The chapter proposes a reimagining of urban planning in South Africa, Africa and the global south through identifying future research avenues in land redistribution to catalyse the equitable and productive utilisation of land. This includes research on the role of financial support mechanisms and political capacity in land redistribution interventions.

Type
Chapter
Information
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alola, A. A., & Alola, U. V. (2019). The dynamic nexus of crop production and population growth: Housing market sustainability pathway. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 26(7), 64726480.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Arabile, G., & Amogelang, M. (2017). Why land seizure is back in news in South Africa. Bloomberg. www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2018-03-01/why-land-seizure-is-back-in-news-in-south-africa-quicktake-q-a#xj4y7vzkgGoogle Scholar
Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC) (2012). Securing the right to land: An overview on access to land in Asia. Quezon City: ANGOC.Google Scholar
Bailey, D. (2007). Land reform in South Africa: A qualitative analysis of the Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development Programme using experiences from a case study in KwaZulu-Natal. Master’s thesis. University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.Google Scholar
Baysse-Lainé, A., & Perrin, C. (2021). Inequities and relations of domination in farmland management in France through the prism of justice foncière and land justice. www.jssj.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/JSSJ_16_Baysse_EN.pdfGoogle Scholar
Beinart, W., Mnwana, S., & Wotshela, L. (2020). Land reform, rural inequality and agrarian change: The case of Isidenge, Stutterheim, Eastern Cape. Transformation: Critical Perspective on Southern Africa, 102(1), 2748.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bolnick, J., & Van Rensburg, G. (2005). The Methodist Church’s initiative to use its vacant land to support homeless people’s housing and livelihoods in South Africa. Environment and Urbanization, 17(1), 115122.Google Scholar
Borras, S. M. Jr, & Franco, J. C. (2010). Contemporary discourses and contestations around pro-poor land policies and land governance. Journal of Agrarian Change, 10(1), 132.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boyce, B. (2003). Linking land restitution and urban development: lessons for restructuring the apartheid city from the Kipi land claim, Durban Metropolitan area. PhD dissertation. University of KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaGoogle Scholar
Chikwanha, A. (2021). Trust and justice – Establishing the link. Politikon, 48(4), 589606.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chikozho, C., Managa, R., & Dabata, T. (2020). Ensuring access to water for food production by emerging farmers in South Africa: What are the missing ingredients? Water SA, 46(2), 225233.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cliffe, L. (2000). Land reform in South Africa. Review of African Political Economy, 27(84), 273286.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cordeiro-Rodrigues, L., & Chimakonam, J. (2020). The South African land question in light of Nelson Mandela’s political thought. African Studies, 79(2), 250265.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cousins, B. (2016). Land reform in South Africa is sinking. Can it be saved? Paper presented to the Nelson Mandela Foundation. www.nelsonmandela.org/uploads/files//Land__law_and_leadership_-_paper_2.pdfGoogle Scholar
Davie, G. (2015). Poverty knowledge in South Africa. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Davis, N. C. (2019). Implications of incomplete restorative justice in South African land restitution: Lessons from the Moletele case. Anthropology Southern Africa, 42(3), 217231.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Falagas, M., Pitsouni, E., Malietzis, G., & Pappas, G. (2008). Comparison of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar: Strengths and weaknesses. FASEB Journal, 22(2), 338342.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gupta, J., & Vegelin, C. (2016). Sustainable development goals and inclusive development. International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, 16(3), 433448.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hall, R. (2004). Restitution and the politics of land reform: Stepping outside the box. Conference on Ten Years of Democracy in Southern Africa, 2–5 May. Kingston, Queens University.Google Scholar
Hall, R. (2014). The legacies of the Native Land Act of 1913. Scriptura, 113, 113.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hall, R., & Kepe, T. (2017). Elite capture and state neglect: New evidence on South Africa’s land reform. Review of African Political Economy, 44(151), 122130.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harrison, P., Todes, A., & Watson, V. (2008). Planning and transformation: Learning from the post-apartheid experience. London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Hendricks, F. (2004). Does the South African Constitution legitimise colonial land alienation? Sociology Department Seminar Series, 5 March. Johannesburg: Rand Afrikaans University.Google Scholar
Holden, G., Rosenberg, G., & Barker, K. (2005). Tracing thought through time and space: A selective review of bibliometrics in social work. Social Work in Health Case, 41(¾), 134.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Huchzermeyer, M., Harrison, P., Charlton, S., Klug, N., Rubin, M., & Todes, A. (2019). Urban land reform in South Africa: Pointers for urban policy and planning. Town and Regional Planning, 75, 91103.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hudson, P. (2019). The reproduction of racial inequality in South Africa: The colonial unconscious and democracy. In Satgar, V. (ed.), Racism after apartheid: Challenges for Marxism and anti-racism (pp. 158193). Johannesburg: Wits University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hull, S., & Whittal, J. (2021). Do design science research and design thinking processes improve the ‘fit’ of the fit-for-purpose approach to securing land tenure for all in South Africa? Land, 10(5), 484.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Keswell, M., & Carter, M. (2014). Poverty and land redistribution. Journal of Development Economics, 110, 250261CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kirsten, J. F., Machethe, C. L., Ndlovu, T., & Lubambo, P. (2016). Performance of land reform projects in the North West Province of South Africa: Changes over time and possible causes. Development Southern Africa, 33(4), 442458.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kloppers, H., & Pienaar, G. (2014). The historical context of land reform in South Africa and early policies. Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal/Potchefstroomse Elektroniese Regsblad, 17(2), 676706.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lahiff, E. (2007). Willing buyer, willing seller: South Africa’s failed experiment in market-led agrarian reform. Third World Quarterly, 28(8), 15771597.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leibbrandt, M., & De Wet, C. (1991). Land reform and regional economy: A Ciskeian case study. In Matlhape, S. & Munz, A. (eds.), Towards a new agrarian democratic order. Amsterdam: SAERT Project.Google Scholar
Lessmann, C. (2014). Spatial inequality and development – Is there an inverted-U relationship? Journal of Development Economics, 106, 3551.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lyne, M., Zille, P., & Graham, D. (2000). Financing the market-based redistribution of land to disadvantaged farmers and farm workers in South Africa: Recent performance of the Land Reform Credit Facility. Sociological Research Online, 5(2), 5765.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mabasa, K. (2019). Democratic Marxism and the national question: Race and class in post-apartheid South Africa. In Satgar, V. (ed.), Racism after apartheid: Challenges for Marxism and anti-racism (pp. 158173). South Africa: Wits University Press.Google Scholar
Mallett, R., Hagen-Zanker, J., Slater, R., & Duvendack, M. (2012). The benefits and challenges of using systematic reviews in international development research. Journal of Development Effectiveness, 4(3), 445455.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Manenzhe, T. J., & Lahiff, E. (2007). Restitution and post-settlement support: Three case studies from Limpopo. https://repository.uwc.ac.za/bitstream/handle/10566/80/Manenzhe_Restitution2007.pdf?sequence=1Google Scholar
Masitera, E. (2021). Thinking about land reform in Southern Africa: The introduction. In Masitera, E. (ed.), Philosophical perspectives on land reform in Southern Africa (pp. 115). London: Palgrave Macmillan.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Matli, W., & Ngoepe, M. (2021). Life situations and lived experiences of young people who are not in education, employment, or training in South Africa. Education + Training, 63(9), 12421257.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
May, H., & Lahiff, E. (2007). Land reform in Namaqualand, 1994–2005: A review. Journal of Arid Environments, 70(4), 782798.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McCann, G., & Matenga, C. (2020). COVID-19 and global inequality. In Carmody, P., McCann, G., Colleran, C. & O’Halloran, C. (eds.), COVID-19 in the global south: Impacts and responses (pp. 161171). Bristol: Bristol University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mkhize, N. B. (2018). Addressing the spatial inequality of economic infrastructure through spatial planning: A case of the proposed Edendale town centre in Msunduzi municipality. PhD dissertation, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.Google Scholar
Mtero, F., Gumede, N., & Ramantsima, K. (2019). Elite capture in land redistribution in South Africa. Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) Research Report No. 55. https://repository.uwc.ac.za/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10566/5089/PLAAS-RR-55-Elite-Capture-Web.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=yGoogle Scholar
Nengomasha, C. (2021). Post-apartheid cities in South Africa: A mirage of inclusivity. In Magidimisha-Chipungu, H. & Chipungu, L. (eds.), Urban inclusivity in Southern Africa (pp. 163191). Cham: Springer.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Netshipale, A. J., Oosting, S. J., Mashiloane, M. L., Van Reenen, C. G., De Boer, I. J., & Raidimi, E. N. (2020). Agriculture in land reform farms: Impact on livelihoods of beneficiaries in the Waterberg district, South Africa. Land Use Policy, 97, 104710.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ntsebeza, L. (2011). The land question: Exploring obstacles to land redistribution in South Africa. In Shapiro, I. & Tebeau, K. (eds.), After apartheid: Reinventing South Africa (pp. 294308). Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press.Google Scholar
Olubode-Awosola, F. (2010). Agricultural land tax and farm-level land-use changes and output supply response. China Agricultural Economic Review, 2(1), 7993.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Olubode-Awosola, O., & Van Schalkwyk, H. (2006). Mentorship alliance between South African farmers: Implications for sustainable agriculture sector reform. South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences, 9(4), 544566.Google Scholar
Olubode-Awosola, O., van Schalkwykb, H., & Jooste, A. (2008). Mathematical modeling of the South African land redistribution for development policy. Journal of Policy Modeling, 30, 841855.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Owino, F. O., Hayombe, P. O., & Agong, S. G. (2014). Spatial planning interventions and their implications on conservation of urban green spaces. Asian Journal of Applied Science and Engineering, 3(3), 321331.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pirri, S., Lorenzoni, V., & Turchetti, G. (2020). Scoping review and bibliometric analysis of Big Data applications for medication adherence: An explorative methodological study to enhance consistency in literature. BMC Health Services Research, 20(1), 123.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Popoola, A. (2022). The politics of infrastructural provision in rural areas of Oyo State Nigeria. African Sociological Review, 26(1), 94126.Google Scholar
Popoola, A., Blamah, N., Mosima, C., Nkosi, M., Medayese, S., Chipungu, L., & Magidimisha-Chipungu, H. (2021). The language of struggle and radical activism as an inclusive city tool among the neglected urban poor of South Africa. In Magidimisha-Chipungu, H. & Chipungu, L. (eds.), Urban inclusivity in Southern Africa (pp. 417445). Cham: Springer International Publishing.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Popoola, A., Olatunde, M., Magidimisha, H., Abiodun, A., Adeleye, B., & Chipungu, L. (2020). Urban forced evictions: Experiences in the metropolitan city of Lagos, Nigeria: Indonesian Journal of Geography, 52(1), 112127.Google Scholar
Pretorius, O., Pillay, N., Letsoko, V., & Huston, Z. (2021). Integrating the 4th industrial revolution in spatial planning curricula: The case of South African tertiary institutions. Australasian Universities Building Education Association Conference (AUBEA), 28–29 October. Victoria: Deakin University.Google Scholar
Reddy, D. T. (2015). South Africa, settler colonialism and the failures of liberal democracy. London: Zed Books.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Republic of South Africa. Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) (2015). Implementation evaluation of Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy (PLAS). www.dalrrd.gov.za/phocadownloadpap/Evaluation_Reports/IMPLEMENTATION%20EVALUATION%20OF%20PROACTIVE%20LAND%20ACQUISITION%20STRATEGY.pdfGoogle Scholar
Republic of South Africa, Department of Agriulture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) (2017). Land audit report: Phase II private land ownership by race, gender and nationality. www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/201802/landauditreport13feb2018.pdfGoogle Scholar
Republic of South Africa, Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) (2020). National policy for beneficiary selection and land allocation (draft). www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/202001/42939gon2.pdfGoogle Scholar
Sharifi, A., & Khavarian-Garmsir, A. R. (2020). The COVID-19 pandemic: Impacts on cities and major lessons for urban planning, design, and management. Elsevier Public Health Emergency Collection, 749(142391), 114.Google Scholar
Shifa, M., & Leibbrandt, M. (2022). Spatial inequality in sub-Saharan Africa. African Geographical Review, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/19376812.2022.2099916CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sihlobo, W., & Kirsten, J. (2018). Clear criteria needed for beneficiary selection in South Africa’s agricultural land redistribution. Business Day, 25 June. www.businesslive.co.za/bd/opinion/2018-06-25-clear-criteria-needed-for-beneficiary-selection-in-agricultural-restitutionGoogle Scholar
Strielkowski, W., Zenchenko, S., Tarasova, A., & Radyukova, Y. (2022). Management of smart and sustainable cities in the post-COVID-19 era: Lessons and implications. Sustainability, 12(7267), 117.Google Scholar
Todes, A. (2008). Rethinking spatial planning. Town and Regional Planning, 53, 913.Google Scholar
Turok, I. (2018). Worlds apart: Spatial inequalities in South Africa. In Smith, M. N. (ed.), Confronting inequality: The South African crisis (pp. 129151). Johannesburg: Jacana Media.Google Scholar
United Nations (UN) (2017). New urban agenda. https://habitat3.org/wp-content/uploads/NUA-English.pdfGoogle Scholar
United Nations (UN) (2022). Sustainable development. https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal11Google Scholar
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2008). Spatial planning: Key instrument for development and effective governance. https://unece.org/info/Housing-and-Land-Management/pub/2878Google Scholar
Van der Walt, A., & Viljoen, S. (2015). The constitutional mandate for social welfare – Systemic differences and links between property, land rights and housing rights. Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal/Potchefstroomse Elektroniese Regsblad, 18(4), 10351090.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Van Eck, N., & Waltman, L. (2022). VOSviewer manual. www.vosviewer.com/getting-startedGoogle Scholar
Vink, N., & Kirsten, J. (2019). Principles and practice for successful farmland redistribution in South Africa. Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) Working Paper No. 57. https://repository.uwc.ac.za/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10566/4653/wp_57_successful_farmland_redistribution_south_africa.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=yGoogle Scholar
Watson, V., & Agbola, B. (2013). Who will plan Africa’s cities? www.africaresearchinstitute.org/newsite/publications/who-will-plan-africas-cities/Google Scholar
Zantsi, S. (2019). Profiling potential land redistribution beneficiaries in South Africa: Implications for agricultural extension and policy design. South African Journal of Agricultural Extension, 47(4), 135151.Google Scholar
Zantsi, S. (2021). Explaining land size demand among potential emerging farmers in South Africa: What does it mean for land redistribution policy? South African Geographical Journal, 103(4), 519539.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zantsi, S., & Greyling, C. (2021). Land redistribution in South Africa’s land reform policy: A better way to select beneficiaries. Agrekon, 60(2), 108127.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zimmerman, F. (2000). Barriers to participation of the poor in South Africa’s land redistribution. World Development, 28(8), 14391460.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×