Land tenure in south africa’s communal areas: A case study of the arabie-olifants scheme

This paper deals with the evolution of the land tenure system, and the prospects for tenure reform in one of South Africa's black communal areas. It is based on a case study of the Arabie-Olifants irrigation scheme, located approximately 20 kilometres south of Lebowakgomo in the former ‘homeland’ of Lebowa, now part of Northern Province. Research activities included a review of the literature on land tenure in South Africa, empirical analysis of official records from the Arabie-Olifants scheme and the Deeds Office, Pretoria, and interviews with chiefs, members of Tribal Authorities and Transitional Local Councils, government officials, farmers' representatives and individual plot-holders on the Arabie-Olifants scheme. Fieldwork was conducted during the period February to May 1999.