Abstract:
In some municipal areas, land grabbing was instigated which led to illegal clearing of land
and settlement even within wetland areas (Coetzee ‘Jeugliga-hoof deel grond uit’ Beeld
(2009-08-11) . In the Tshwane Metro Council area informal settlement seems to be
orchestrated in certain mining areas. Although the Council is able to provide land to 29 500
people, land invasions are still a common feature and the Council is constantly embroiled
in eviction proceedings (Versluis ‘29 500 kan blyplek kry met plan, hoor hof in
uitsettingsaak’ Beeld (2010-03-25) . In Johannesburg people were evicted from derelict
buildings without any alternative accommodation. They paid rent for the flats and were
unaware that they were illegal occupants (Thakali ‘Red ants evict 1000 from derelict block’
Saturday Star (2010-02-13)
A Rural Development and Land Reform General Amendment Bill [B33-2010] was
introduced into Parliament. The main purpose of this Bill is to ‘amend certain laws of which
the administration, powers and functions have been transferred to the Minister of Rural
Development and Land Reform in terms of Proclamation no 44 of 1 July 2009.’ The
legislation is amended to reflect the correct names of the Minister, Department and
Director-General wherever the amendments are applicable.
In this note land the most important measures and court decisions pertaining to
restitution, land redistribution, land reform, housing, land use planning, deeds, agriculture
and rural development are discussed.