Tracing the legacy of the Native Land Act of 1913: a historical and contemporary analysis of land reform in the post-apartheid South Africa

In South Africa, land ownership continues to be an issue deeply rooted in the historical injustices imposed through the Native Land Act of 1913. This act was pivotal in the apartheid government’s commitment to institutionalising the dispossession of Black South Africans and escalated racial inequalities in land distribution. A systematic literature review forms the methodological basis of this study, tracing the legacy of the Native Land Act of 1913 to understand the historical and contemporary analysis of land reform in post-apartheid South Africa. The review exposes critical gaps in the land reform programmes established by the post-apartheid government in South Africa. The gaps include the slow pace of the implementation of land reform programmes and the inability to balance equity with economic sustainability. To some extent, these challenges have not only escalated systemic inequalities but also contributed to the growing tensions, including farm killings, confirming the persistent legacies of apartheid. The findings on equity-driven land redistribution in Rwanda and the post-revolution abolition of feudal systems in Ethiopia offer valuable lessons in addressing historical land disparities effectively. This is what stands as a problem in South Africa, where there is fragmented governance and a lack of inclusive frameworks that have hindered meaningful land reform. The study recommends that there must be a comprehensive approach to land reform that incorporates equity, economic productivity, and cultural restoration.