Land matters and rural development : 2013 (2)

Abstract

Three new Policy Frameworks were published on 23 July 2013 (see Land Reform below). This recent increase in legislative and policy document activity may be linked to the Government's general reconsideration of land reform matters in the light of the centenary of the commencement of the Black Land Act 27 of 1913. Renewed activity within the broad field of land reform is also connected to the developmental approach that has become more pronounced since 2009. The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) had already decided in 2010 to embark on a comprehensive land audit as it was 'clear that records of who earned what in South Africa; where, and what proportion of this belonged to the State, ... were uncoordinated, inadequate and incomplete'. The State Land Audit gathered information relating to the identity of the owner as well as that of the occupier/user, the rights to the land, its current usage, and the buildings and improvements existing on the land concerned. Registered state land is defined as land owned by the state (national, provincial, municipal and parastatals) and registered in the Deeds Registrar's Office as such.