Land matters and rural development : 2010

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.