TITLE DEEDS
CAROL PATON: Both black and white farmers must fight for secure land tenure
The African Farmers Association of SA said last week that it supported the ANC’s position on the expropriation of land without compensation in cases where, for instance, land was unutilised. But, it added, black farmers wanted to own their land and hold the title deed. It was strongly opposed to land reform policy as it stands, in which they are made perpetual tenants of the state. The anger of black farmers over the title-deed issue highlights a little-known and quite astonishing fact. While one of the pillars of the Constitution for building a new society was to give those who had been denied security of tenure through past discrimination inalienable rights to property, in the past 10 years the government has quietly ditched this aspiration, replacing it with a leasehold system not that different from the tenure system for black people under apartheid.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.