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Deputy President Paul Mashatile
The handover marks a momentous occasion in South Africa’s ongoing land reform efforts, particularly as it coincides with the 30th anniversary of the enactment of the Restitution of Land Rights Act of 1994, which was introduced to redress the forced dispossession of land under colonial and apartheid rule.
Restoring Dignity and Land Rights
The Qelana and Qolombana communities, located near Mthatha in the OR Tambo District Municipality, lost their land through the apartheid regime’s controversial “Betterment Policy.” This policy, implemented during the mid-20th century, systematically stripped black South Africans of their land ownership and reduced their tenure to a “Permission to Occupy” status.
According to the Presidency, the Betterment Policy not only led to the dispossession of land but also caused severe spatial and agricultural dislocation. The overlapping land rights imposed under this policy resulted in shrinking residential and arable land allocations, disrupting traditional land tenure systems and livelihoods.
The Qelana community was dispossessed of its land in 1957 and again in 1963, while the Qolombana community experienced forced removals as early as 1936 and again in 1963. Both communities have been engaged in a long battle for redress and the formal restoration of their ancestral land.
Legal Recognition Through Land Restitution
The restitution process for these communities has been spearheaded by the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights under the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development. The commission facilitated negotiations with the affected communities, who opted for the restoration of their land rather than financial compensation.
The Department confirmed that all necessary legal procedures have been completed, and the transfer of title deeds will now formally restore the communities’ legal ownership of their land after decades of injustice.
“This is not only a return of land but a return of dignity and heritage,” said a senior official from the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development. “It represents a significant milestone in correcting the historical wrongs committed under apartheid and acknowledging the resilience of our people.”
National and Provincial Leaders to Attend
Deputy President Mashatile will preside over the handover ceremony alongside the Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development, Mzwanele Nyhontso. They will be joined by Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane, local mayors, traditional leaders, and senior officials from various government departments.
The event is expected to draw large crowds from the local communities, government stakeholders, and civil society organisations who have supported the land restitution process. The presence of national and provincial leaders underscores the significance of the handover not only for the communities involved but also for the broader national agenda on land reform.
Commemorating 30 Years of Land Rights Legislation
The title deed handover coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Restitution of Land Rights Act, which came into effect in 1994 as part of South Africa’s transformative legislative agenda following the dawn of democracy. The Act allows individuals and communities who were dispossessed of land after 1913 due to racially discriminatory laws and practices to claim restitution.
Over the past three decades, the Act has led to the restoration of hundreds of thousands of hectares of land across the country. While progress has been made, challenges remain in fast-tracking the process and ensuring that returned land is effectively used to uplift communities.
“The 30-year milestone reminds us of both our achievements and the work still ahead. We are committed to intensifying land reform in a manner that is just, equitable, and sustainable,” Mashatile is expected to say during his keynote address at the ceremony.
The Legacy of the Betterment Policy
The Betterment Policy was a spatial planning intervention by the apartheid regime, which sought to centralise and control rural African communities by reallocating land, breaking up communal ownership, and forcing relocations. This policy devastated indigenous land management systems and often resulted in overpopulation, erosion, and loss of agricultural productivity.
In areas such as Qelana and Qolombana, families were removed from fertile lands and forced into smaller, often less arable areas. As a result, generations grew up disconnected from their ancestral heritage and were deprived of economic opportunities tied to land access.
The restoration of land to these communities serves as an important step in addressing the socio-economic impact of these historical injustices and providing the foundation for rural development.
Building Sustainable Livelihoods Post-Restitution
Land restitution is not only about ownership but also about sustainability and empowerment. The Department of Land Reform has indicated that the communities will receive post-settlement support to ensure the effective use of their land. This includes agricultural extension services, infrastructure development, access to funding, and skills training programmes.
Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane has expressed his administration’s commitment to supporting these efforts and integrating the land reform beneficiaries into broader economic programmes in the province.
“We are not merely giving land back. We are helping communities use it productively—to grow food, to start businesses, to create employment, and to preserve cultural heritage,” Mabuyane said in a recent provincial engagement on rural development.
A Symbol of Justice and Unity
The Qelana and Qolombana title deed handover ceremony is expected to serve as both a celebration of justice and a reminder of the enduring struggle for land in South Africa. It highlights the government’s continued commitment to land reform and reaffirms the promise made at the dawn of democracy—that land dispossession would be reversed and dignity restored to those wronged.
While many land claims still remain unresolved across the country, the handover to the Eastern Cape communities is a sign that restitution remains firmly on the government’s agenda.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile, who has been leading efforts through the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Land Reform and Agriculture, has reiterated that land reform will continue to be treated with urgency and care.
“We must accelerate the pace of land reform, but in doing so, we must ensure that communities are empowered and that justice is achieved. Land is not just an economic asset—it is a source of identity, history, and pride,” Mashatile said at a previous engagement.
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