AFRA is an independent NGO working on land rights and agrarian reform in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. AFRA's work focuses on black rural people whose rights to land have been undermined, whose tenure is insecure, and who do not have access to sufficient land to fulfill their development aspirations or even their basic needs. Follow AFRA on Changes at AFRA Press Release, 13 May 2013 The Association for Rural Advancement (AFRA), one of KwaZulu-Natal’s oldest land rights NGOs, will be taking time out to re-gear itself for a new focus in 2014 in order to meet the new challenges associated with land reform and a donor funding environment that has changed fundamentally since 1994. This will involve major restructuring over the remainder of the year. The restructuring includes the possibility of organisational downsizing in order that AFRA meets its legal financial obligations to staff, a decision that could involve retrenchments. It will be accompanied by a period of restrategising to develop a new direction that is more appropriate to the challenges in the land sector and the funding environment. Read more Shaping a new legacy: Tshintsha Amakhaya discussion at the Land Divided 2013 Conference Claire, 26 March 2013 Tshintsha Amakhaya, an alliance of NGOs in land and agrarian reform,hosted a workshop at the Land Divided 2013 Conference which was held at the University of Cape Town between 24 and 27 March 2013. Participants at the conference ranged from civil society actors and activists, to interested and affected community members; but strongly comprised of the academic community who presented their research on various aspects of the land debate. Read more AFRA statement on Human Rights Day AFRA, 21 March 2013 When a crowd gathered at the Sharpeville station 53 years ago, they created one of the enduring landmarks of our country’s history. They were protesting against the “pass laws”, and calling for their rights to be recognized. Today, as the rest of South Africa celebrates Human Rights Day, farmdwellers still have nothing to celebrate. Their pleas to have their rights recognized have been left unanswered. What can a farmdweller celebrate when he lacks secure tenure rights? When his rights are still violated, and he is continuously denied access to basic services? These are humiliating experiences that still exist on farms, after 18 years of democracy. Read more Today we celebrate International Women's Day (8 March) AFRA, 8 March 2013 International Women's Day has been observed since in the early 1900's, a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies. Read more Remember to wear Black and Green every Thursday to express solidarity with the landless people AFRA, 28 Feb 2013 Read more about the Campaign Organisations push for land and agrarian transformation For immediate release: Wednesday 20 February 2013 “Let’s walk together; not separately. Let’s make do with what we have and let’s make it stronger”, Monique Salomon, Tshintsha Amakhaya On 15 and 16 February, Tshintsha Amakhaya, an alliance of civil society organizations (CSOs), and the Land Movement of South Africa and their affiliates, held a joint planning workshop at Community House in Cape Town. Close to 40 organizations and social movements in land and agrarian reform came together to share their plans for the 2013 Native Land Act Centenary. Read more AFRA statement on Police brutality against Citrusdal farm workers AFRA, 5 Dec 2012 The Association for Rural Advancement (AFRA) vehemently condemns the use of police machinery to deal with protesters. Yesterday, hundreds of Western Cape farmworkers marched peacefully in Paarl to hand over a memorandum of demands for improved labour conditions. The farmworkers were demanding that their rights are recognised and that farmers immediately agree to pay a minimum wage of R150 a day. Read more Traditional Courts Bill not withdrawn: GCIS issued misleading statement Aninka Claassens, 5 Dec 2012 It seems that some clarification might be needed on the current status of the TCB Bill. Contrary to recent statements issued by Alliance members the Traditional Courts Bill has not been withdrawn and is currently being debated by the provinces. The provincial mandates are due to be debated by the NCOP select committee next year. Read more Statement On Scrapping Of Traditional Courts Bill AFRA, 4 Dec 2012 AFRA and the Land Rights Legal Unit welcomes the decision of the government to scrap the TCB and hails it as a victory for the countless rural dwellers who would be adversely affected by it. This is particularly in regard to the fact that many of these provisions violate fundamental constitutional principles. These include the right to legal representation and the right to be presumed innocent. Read more Controversial Traditional Courts Bill withdrawn By Dennis Cruywagen, 29 Nov 2012 Cape Town - The controversial Traditional Courts Bill is to be withdrawn and will not be brought before Parliament any time soon. This was a unanimous decision taken at its last meeting of the year on Wednesday, by Parliament's Select Committee on Security and Constitutional Development. Read more AFRA statement of support on farmworkers protest AFRA, 19 Nov 2012 The Association For Rural Advancement pledges its support and solidarity for the struggles of farmworkers and dwellers in challenging the inequalities, dispossession and injustices which continue on many farms. Read more Launch of Status report and Community videos, 14 Nov 2012 Tshintsha Amakhaya (TA) an alliance of NGO’s in land and agrarian reform invites you to the launch of The Agrarian Rural Household Economy status report and community videos on Saturday 24 November in Cape Town. Read more Press Release: The Agrarian Rural Household Economy Join the 99 YEARS WITHOUT LAND. MAYIBUYE I'AFRIKA! Campaign 14 Nov 2012 Tshintha Amakhaya's Mayibuye iAfrika! Campaign has been launched by the World Rural Forum as Just Cause for the International Year of Family Farming 2014. Express your support and send this letter to Government representatives so that they become aware of the continued negative impact of the Native Land Act The 2nd Edition of the Land Legal Review is out! Land Rights Legal Unit, 3 Oct 2012 Click link to read the edition 99 Years Without Our Land. Mayibuye iAfrika Tshintsha Amakhaya, 20 June 2012 After 99 years of the 1913 Land Act and nearly two decades of failed land reform, the patience of South Africa's landless people is fast running out. Less than 6% of land has been redistributed and land reform projects have failed to result in equitable access to resources or to benefit from agriculture. Read more The Agrarian Rural Household Economy 19 June 2012 The link below provides an executive summary of a research that was done under the Tshintsha Amakhaya programme titled: The Agrarian Rural Household Economy. It provides a status report on livelihoods, rights and land use in selected sites in KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Eastern Cape and Western Cape. Read more

Latest Land News South Africa; The Real Estate Law Review. Mondaq 16 May 2013 DA focuses on land reform. Sowetan 15 May 2013 Department to help struggling Mpumalanga land recipients with development. Business Day 14 May 2013 New website Custom Contested launched by the Centre for Law and Society 13 May 2013 LHR to set precedent in post-settlement support with Baphiring Land Claim. LHR 3 May 2013 Some good news for landowners. IOL News 26 April 2013 Agriculture in South Africa: ideology and reality - TAU SA 25 April 2013 Insight: Complex legacy of 1913 Land Act 'held captive'. Daily Dispatch 26 April 2013 Govt having to recapitalise 730 farms this year. Politicsweb 24 April 2013 MalaMala land claim case heads for Constitutional Court. Business Day 24 April 2013 Is Africa about to Lose the Right to her Seed? Glen Ashton. SACSIS 23 April 2013 Summary of Critique of the Nation Development Plan March 2013. Polity 19 April 2013 New SA farmers team up with predecessors. Polity 19 April 2013 Centenary of the 1913 Land Act. Colin Bundy Amandla 18 April 2013 Land reform will remain a hot topic. Farmer's Weekly 17 April 2013 Cronin explains reasons for Expropriation Bill. Politicsweb 17 April 2013 Nearly 2000 claims of land restitution still outstanding. The New Age 17 April 2013 Youhave no right to won land if you're black and rural. Mmegi Online 16 April 2013 The Khoi, San People Agree to Work with Govt in Restoring Their Land Rights. allAfrica 16 April 2013 UW professor of law advocates property rights worldwide. The daily UW 11 April 2013 Michael Aliber and Ben Cousins Highlight the Problems with the Current Land Reform Model. HSRC Press 11 April 2013 All redistributed land productive by 2016 - Dept. The New Age 10 April 2013 Western Cape farm strikes: A new project may reveal the full picture. The Daily Maverick 10 April 2013 Farming for change. The New Age 10 April 2013 Facts belie perceptions of land reform. State does not have enough land for reform needs. Leadership 9 April 2013 Kimberley to host National Land Indaba. The New Age 9 April 2013 Family Farming for feeding the world: What is needed to unleash the potential of small-scale food production. ILC 5 April 2013 Land reform plan has 'not failed'. Mail & Guardian 5 April 2013 Rich land drives claims. Mail & Guardian 5 April 2013 Deny land to claimants 'as last resort' Mail & Guardian 5 April 2013 King in bid for land. The New Age. 4 April 2013 Traditional Courts Bill to via provinces. The New Age 2 April 2013 Who is our Future Farmer? Donna Hornby The Witness 2 April 2013 Sugar industry rolls up sleeves to help state resolve land claims.2 April 2013 Traditional law denies rights. Mail & Guardian 28 March 2013 Land, Labour, and South Africa's Tumultuous Agrarian Landscape. Think Africa Press 28 March 2013 No red flags for proposed land bill. The Mercury 22 March 2013 North West farmworker receives dignified burial after 13 years. SAnews.gov.za 21 March 2013 Food security top for Brics nations. SAnews.gov.za 19 March 2012 Farmers, farm dwellers learn about land rights. SAnew.gov.za 19 March 2013 Traditional Courts Bill? Time for ANC to Decide. All Africa. 17 March 2013 Shell cashes in on apartheid-era land law. Mail & Guardian 15 March 2013 The time for piecemeal land reform is over - Senzeni Zokwana. SACP .Politicsweb 12 March 2013 Farmers fail to prove that foreigners work harder. Business Report 12 March 2013 So Where Does Your Food Come From?. Glenn Ashton. SACSIS 12 March 2013 918 farmers seek exemption from new wage. Business Report 8 March 2013 Traditional leaders urged to help build the nation. SAnews.gov.za 7 March 2013 Zuma: Promote farming among youth. Business Report 7 March 2013 Big boost for Mpuma’s small farmers. SAnews.gov.za 6 March 2013 Funds set aside for land reform. The New Age 6 March 2013 Land claim money 'missing'. The Mercury 5 March 2013 Land-claim unrest. The Witness 5 March 2013 Land restitution to be faster, stricter, says Deputy Minister. SAnews.gov.za 28 Feb 2013 Agriculture minister welcomes support measure. Business Report 27 Feb 2013 Farmworkers go on unprotected strike- Dol. Politicsweb 27 Feb 2013 Farmworkers’ wage increase looms. Business Report 26 Feb 2013 South Africa, a developmental state? No chance. Daily Maverick 26 Feb 2013 South Africa's First Nations Five Land Claims Consultation Thumbs Down. SACIS 26 Feb 2013 NDP based on Western Cape land reform, says Zille. Business Day 25 Feb 2013 South Africa to speed up land reform. South Afica.info 25 Feb 2013 Khoisan to meet Nkwinti over land. Independent Online 24 Feb 2013 Land ownership proposal not antagonistic to foreign investors. SAnew.gov.za 22 Feb 2013 Foreigners should not own farms in SA: Nkwinti. Independent Online 22 Feb 2012 Lack of systems, detailed records hold back land reform, says Nkwinti. Business Day 22 Feb 2013 Land reform has been too slow, it hasn`t failed - Gugile Nkwinti.Politicsweb 21 Feb 2013 Wage rise could lose KZN agriculture 30 000 jobs, say experts. The Witness 21 Feb 2013 Agri SA cautions against Nkwinti`s land plans. Politicsweb 20 Feb 2013 Five pillars to guide new land tenure system. SAnews.gov.za 20 Feb 2013 Land audit complete: minister. IOL News 19 Feb 2013 AFASA applauds new model for land compensation. SAnews.gov.za. 15 Feb 2013 Wage hikes will not necessarily fix rural poverty. Mail and Guardian 15 Feb 2013 The State of the Nation in numbers. SouthAfrica.info 14 Feb 2013 Infrastructure projects underway, land reform to be boosted - Zuma. SAnews.gov.za 14 Feb 2013 'Willing buyer, willing seller' principal to go: Zuma. IOL News 14 Feb 2013 State of the Nation Address 2013. Sowetan 14 Feb 2013 The Experience of Poverty in South Africa: A Summary of Afrobarometer Indicators, 2000-2011. Idasa 13 Feb 2013 Govt ministers call for social accord in agriculture. SAnew.gov.za 13 Feb 2013 Foreigners to be barred from owning land in South Africa. BDlive 12 Feb 2013 District Six: The soul of land redistribution. Daily Maverick 11 Feb 2013 R1m for farm workers’ union - Sactwu. Business News 9 Feb 2013 How to fix broken agriculture model. Glen Ashton The Mercury 8 Feb 2013 Land audit urgently required. Mail & Guardian 8 Feb 2013 The days of relatively cheap food my be over forever - TAU SA. Politics Web 8 Feb 2013 Farm workers must resist dismissals - COSATU WCape Politicsweb 8 Feb 2013 2 000 farm workers retrenched: report - Business News 7 Feb 2013 Dept cautions non-compliant farmers. SA new.gov.za 7 Feb 2013 Decline in agriculture jobs: survey. Business Report 7 Feb 2013 Struggling farmers urged to seek help. Business Report 7 Feb 2013 Farm layoffs start two days after wage hike.. Polity.org.za 6 Feb 2013 R105 a day:Farmworkers, farmers and an uneasy compromise. Daily Maverick 5 Feb 2013 Cosatu land threat to farmers. IOL News 5 Feb 2013 COSATU cautiously welcomes new farm worker minimum wage. Politics Web 4 Feb 2013 Emerging farmers won`t be able to afford new wages - TAU SA. Politics Web 4 Feb 2013 Minister announces new minimum wage for farmworkers. SA New.gov.za 4 Feb 2013 ANC Conference resolution: On Economic Transformation. ANC 4 Feb 2013 Union happy with R100 days wage for farm workers, for now. Mail & Guardian 2 Feb 2013 Archive of Land News 2012-13 Archive of Land News Articles Latest AFRA Reports AFRA Annual Report 2011. Download PDF AFRA Annual Report 2010. Download PDF Apartheid space and fractured power: vicious cycles of poverty in Cornfields, KwaZulu-Natal.Lisa Del Grande & Donna Hornby. July 2010. Download PDF(241k) AFRA Articles In defence of the courts by Thabo Manyathi, Published in The Witness 22 Sept 2011 Read more Tessa Cousins: In Memoriam. Read more Appointment of new Director at AFRA - Stephen Hulbert. Nov 2010 Read more Scrap amakhosi system, say communities. Nov 2010. Read more The government’s response to combating food insecurity: are there opportunities for collaboration with civil society? by Nonhlanzeko Mthembu. Read more The “One home, One garden” strategy. Will it work? by Nonhlanzeko Mthembu Read More The Repeal of the Black Authorities Act — The Ghost lives On by Thabo Manyathi.July 2010 Read more Power relations on Farms: The liberation of farm workers requires a radical programme to change power relations in the farms by Thabo Manyathi Published in The Shopsteward Cosatu Vol 19 No. 3 June/July 2010. Download PDF “Land Rights are Human Rights” by Nokuthula Mthimunye. 23 March 2010 Read more Land plans: ‘Please explain” 18 March 2010. Read more Land Anger: The government must stop its meddling - Blessing J. Karumbidza and Nokuthula Mthimunye. 23 April 2009 Read more Land Rights for the Poor - Lisa delGrande 24 Sept 2008 Read more New Forms of Land Dispossession - Thabo Manyathi. 11 Sept 2008 Read more Landless Farm Dwellers to March for Access to Justice - 13 March 2008 Read more Successful and peaceful land reform and secure land rights for all requires an affordable and accessible justice system for all! - 31 January 2008. Read more AFRA Press Statements Statement on opening the land claims process - 12 May 2011. Read more Statement on National Farm Workers Summit . 5 August 2010. Read more Statement on the Constitutional Judgement of CLARA . 14 May 2010. Read more Statement on Farm Killings . 8 April 2010. Read more Statement on the delay in settling land restitution claims and suspension of land reform officials in the Ladysmith District on allegations of corruption . 25 March 2010. Read more Statement on Kennedy Road Informal Settlement - 30 September 2009. Read more Newcastle judgement regarding Kubheka burial dispute 30 January 2008 . Read more