Latest Land News

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.

The Repeal of the Black Authorities Act – The Ghost lives On by Thabo Manyathi - AFRA Will the ANC succeed where the apartheid government failed, to institute different policies for the same population which is governed by the supremacy of the constitution, thereby creating the subjects who are under the thumb of traditional authorities and on the other hand citizens in cities and town who enjoy certain rights under a complete different dispensation. What we have witnessed thus far is the continued consolidation through legislation of the position and powers of traditional leaders and their institutions in both administrative, economic and political aspects of rural life. Some of the salient features embodied in recent legislations which were part of the apartheid social and political engineering have not been removed. The imposed tribal boundaries and traditional identities which people resisted during apartheid have found their way back but now all that is done in a democratic context. Read more See also BAA 'undermined dignity of blacks' News24.Com 20 July 2010

The liberation of farm workers requires a radical programme to change power relations in the farms. by Thabo Manyathi published in Cosatu's Shopsteward Volume 19 No. 3 July 2010

The issues affecting people on farms are not receiving any serious attention from the government and political organizations in our country. Although people on farms still remain the poorest of the poor in our country today, there are little tangible changes that they have seen since we voted in 1994 April, 27. They have yet to taste real fear, from want, freedom to express themselves and to organize. People on farms live as families on their own homestead and others on the houses built for them by the farmer or the employer. Their families including children continue to face major problems alongside their parents. Read more

The government’s response to combating food insecurity: are there opportunities for collaboration with civil society? by Nonhlanzeko Mthembu, Junior Researcher - AFRA
The bill of rights declaration The chapter on the bill of rights in the constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act 108 of 1996 clearly states that: 1. Everyone has the right to have access to sufficient tood and water. 2. The state must take measurable legislative and other measures, within its available resources, to achieve the progressive realization of each of these rights Read more

The “One home, One garden” strategy. Will it work? by Nonhlanzeko Mthembu, Junior Researcher- AFRA

Hunger and food parcels KwaZulu-Natal premier, Dr Zweli Mkhize, in his state of the province address on Mandela Day, said. “The major cause of ill health and death in the developing world is hunger, poverty…” Local statistical backs up his statement: approximately 35% of the population in KwaZulu-Natal is encountering hunger on a daily basis. The premier then announced a rural development initiative, the ‘One home, one garden strategy’ as a response to this shocking reality. As exciting as the premier’s proposed strategy to fight hunger in the province may seem, it is shocking to read that current programs with the same intention, are failing to deliver as expected. Will the proposed food pack roll out not face similar challenges as these stated by Moyahabo Mabeba and Mhlaba Memela of Abahlali baseMjondolo. Read More