A critical analysis of land tenure and land tenure upgrading and its spatial implications on land development : the case of OR Tambo District, Eastern Cape

MArt et Sc (Town- and Regional Planning), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2019Land reform policy in South Africa is largely or entirely concerned with redressing issues related to the historic dispossession of land resulting from the policies applied by the previous government. Section 25 of the Constitution (1996) addresses the issue of land in South Africa and the legal and policy framework attempts to achieve redress without jeopardizing the advancement of economic development, food security and improvement of livelihoods. This research investigates land tenure upgrading and its spatial impacts on land development in the OR Tambo District. The research adopts a qualitative methodological approach using the mentioned case study. The findings revealed that a number of planned developments have not reached implementation due to lodged claims and the legal prohibitions negatively affecting development on such land. The study concludes that the identified economic, social and environmental outcomes associated with the manner in which land reform is applied, compromises the sustainability of the discourse in relation to land development in this former Homeland area. The study recommends the implementation of a detailed Land Reform Framework comprising seven key components.Grondhervormingsbeleid in Suid-Afrika is grotendeels of heeltemal bekommerd oor die herstel van kwessies wat verband hou met die historiese verkryging en oordrag van grond as gevolg van die beleid wat deur die vorige regering toegepas word. Artikel 25 van die Grondwet (1996) handel oor kwessie van grond in Suid-Afrika in aggenome en die regs- en beleidsraamwerk poog em om regstelling ten opsigte van grongeinaars te bereik sonder om die vooruitgang van ekonomiese ontwikkeling, voedselsekuriteit en verbetering van lewenskwaliteit in gedrang te bring. Hierdie navorsing handel dus oor die proses van grondbesit opgradering en die ruimtelike impak daarvan op grondontwikkeling in die OR Tambo Distrik. Die narvorsing aanvaar ‘n kwalitatiewe metodologie benadering en deur to genoemde gevallestudie te gebruik Die bevindinge het aan die lig gebring dat 'n aantal beplande ontwikkelings nie die implementering sadium bereik nie as gevolg van gevstige eise en die wettige verbod wat ontwikkeling op die grond negatief beïnvloed. Die studie het tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat die geïdentifiseerde ekonomiese, maatskaplike en omgewingsuitkomste wat verband hou met die wyse waarop grondhervorming in die Distrik toegepas word, die volhoubaarheid van die diskoers in grondontwikkeling in hierdie voormalige Tuisland kompromiteer en benadeel. Die studie beveel aan die implementering van 'n gedetailleerde grondhervormingsraamwerk wat uit sewe sleutelkomponente bestaanNational Research Foundation (South Africa)Master