Discriminatory laws the cause of land debates

THE current land reform debate is due to the racially discriminatory laws and practices that were in place during the repressive years of apartheid rule.

The apartheid regime used punitive legislative intervention to establish and enforce its policy of racial segregation. Discriminatory laws and practices such as the The Natives Land Act 27 of 1913, The Native Trust and Land Act 18 of 1936, The Group Areas Act 41 of 1950, among others, resulted in extreme inequalities in land and property ownership and land use.

I can still clearly recall how the Group Areas Act affected my family, our neighbours and friends. Besides the harsh financial implications, the people suffered due to the act and it also affected them psychologically.

The Group Areas Act destroyed thriving, vibrant and close-knit communities all over South Africa.

Post-apartheid South Africa faces an assortment of challenges that originated from the prejudices and inequalities caused by the application of apartheid’s inhuman brutal laws.

To this end, the unequal distribution of land, the injustices of the past and the land reform programme, restitution, land redistribution and tenure security, must be adequately, effectively and immediately addressed.

Although the South African government has shown a commitment to eradicating the inequalities and injustices of the past, as enshrined in the constitution, the land reform process needs to be resolved through an acceptable, legal and amicable framework so as not to hurt any sector of the community and economy.

MOHAMED SAEED

Pietermaritzburg