An investigation of illegal farm evictions in the Great Kei Local Municipality

This research entails a case study on the investigation of illegal farm evictions in the Great Kei Local Municipality of the Eastern Cape. The study was propelled by the plight of people living and working on farms in South Africa who are always victims of illegal farm evictions. Such evictions in many an instance violate their basic human rights protected by South Africa’s constitution and many other international conventions. It is hoped that the findings and recommendations of the research will have a profound impact on how illegal farm evictions in future will be handled by those championing the rights of people living and working on farms. Similarly, there is hope that this study will create an interest in others to new broader issues of human rights protection. A closer look at concepts like constructive evictions is necessary because of their traumatic nature to their victims. The study is divided into five chapters. 1. Introduction This chapter provides a background, the purpose of the study, specific objectives or research questions, hypotheses or assumptions of the study, the significance of the study, justification or rationale of the study, delimitation of the study, literature review, methodology, ethical considerations, and the limitations of the study. 2. The history of farm evictions in South Africa This chapter gives an outline of farm evictions in South Africa from both the colonial and apartheid 3. The culture of human rights in South Africa This chapter examines the institutions and instruments that influence the human rights culture in South Africa. It focuses on the legislative framework of human rights. 4. Farm evictions in the Great Kei Local Municipality of the Eastern Cape This chapter discusses farm evictions in the Great Kei Local Municipality and South Africa in general between December 2001 and December 2006. A case study of the same municipality is the nucleus of this research. 5. Conclusion The evaluation, findings, and recommendations of the study form the greater part of the chapter