The impact of land reform on rural women in South Africa: the case of Mkhwanazi Land Restitution Programme.
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Date
2021
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Abstract
Land is considered a vital instrument that is used in the empowerment and disempowerment of
people for a wide assortment of reasons as justification. For example, during apartheid in South
Africa, land was used to disempower Black people. The country’s first majority rule election,
which took place in 1994, carried with it an obligation to address the shameful acts perpetrated
by colonialism and apartheid. One of those was the introduction of the land reform programme
which focusses more on the country’s majority population disowned land and disadvantaged
women who are mostly found in rural areas. The community of Mkhwanazi, like many other
communities across South Africa was disowned land in the past. Studies have shown the
benefits associated with land reform in empowering women in rural areas. Land is a valuable
asset in rural areas because it holds the key to women empowerment and security, gives them
more influence over finances and household decisions. Indeed, empirical evidence shows that
where land reforms are implemented, rural women have indeed been empowered. It is for this
reason that the policy document on land reform which was adopted as the White Paper in 1997
placed considerable emphasis on gender equity regarding women’s access to land and
meaningful participation in decision-making procedures. Land restitution is being implemented
in South Africa post-apartheid. This study’s focus is on the Mkhwanazi land restitution claim
settlement. It explores the extent to which the settlement of the land restitution claim benefitted
women empowerment at Mkhwanazi Land Restitution project in Umhlathuze City
Municipality of the King Cetshwayo District. Adopting a qualitative research design and a case
study strategy, data was collected through interviews with trustees of the community trust,
administrating the restituted land and focus groups interviews with women beneficiaries of the
Mkhwanazi community. The findings show that despite evidence showing how land reform
benefits and empowers rural women elsewhere, women beneficiaries of Mkhwanazi have not
benefitted directly and not empowered. Barriers and challenges that prohibit women
empowerment were identified which limit the benefits of the reformed land.
Description
Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.