Land restitution in Morebene Community within the Molemole Local Municipality : an analysis of land restitution processes

Abstract

Land reform in South Africa is premised on land restitution. land redistribution and security of terlllre as its major components. It has the following objectives amongst others, to address the injustices of racially-based land dispossession; inequitable distribution ofland ownership; need for security of tenure for all: need for sustainable use of land: need [or rapid release of land for development: need to record and register all rights in property: and the need to administer public land in an effective manner. Over two decades of the democratic dispensation, lack of proper funding and capacity by government official to expedite the land reform processes deprives the rural communities like the Morebene community the enjoyment of their land rights and proper redress after devastating land dispossession. The research has managed to establish the serious pain and suffering that has been brought by incompetent implementation of six phases of land restitution process by Limpopo RLCC to the commuillty of Morebeoe. Lack of capacity to implement land restitution processes has been found to have been a major setback to lhe Morebene communjty to an extent that their restitution processes were abandoned by the Limpopo RLCC at project execution stage. The community composed of nearly 81% of rhe youth and middle aged people bas been left without jobs and no property rights and development all of which are caused by the lack of expertise from the oHicials of the RLCC. No restitution grants and development gTants were granted to the community and no formal or informal training let alone workshops held in relation to the government"s expectations from the land reform policies and legislation.