Minister Nyhontso Calls for Bold Action to Dismantle Legacy of 1913 Land Act

On the 112th anniversary of one of South Africa’s most devastating pieces of legislation, the Native Land Act of 1913, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso delivered a powerful address reaffirming his department’s commitment to reversing the deeply entrenched legacy of racial dispossession. Speaking on June 19, 2025, the Minister described the Act as a "calculated, cruel instrument" that dismantled the economic foundation of Black communities and entrenched racial and economic inequality for generations.

A Legacy of Dispossession and Systemic Oppression

The Native Land Act, enacted on June 19, 1913, restricted Black South Africans to just 7% of the land, designated as “native reserves.” It prohibited them from owning or even leasing land outside these areas, regardless of whether they had historically lived or farmed on that land. This legal framework fundamentally disrupted the self-sustaining agrarian lifestyle that millions of Black families had relied upon for generations.

Minister Nyhontso highlighted how this dispossession was not just about land—it was about stripping people of economic independence, cultural identity, and dignity. “The act laid the foundation for a system of migrant labor, exploitative farm contracts, and generational poverty,” he said. “It forced Black people into becoming cheap labourers in white-owned farms, mines, and industries, a situation that persists in different forms to this day.”

Historical Impact: Evictions, Poverty, and Loss of Autonomy

The aftermath of the 1913 Act was marked by mass evictions, confiscation of cattle and crops, and the destruction of homes. Families that once thrived through subsistence and commercial farming were displaced and left vulnerable. This economic and social upheaval not only erased self-sufficiency but laid the groundwork for structural poverty that continues to afflict rural communities in South Africa today.

Minister Nyhontso emphasized that “Black South Africans were not just robbed of land, but of the right to provide for their families, to educate their children, and to pass on generational wealth. The impact of that single law continues to define the socio-economic contours of our country.”

Reclaiming the Land: A National Imperative

Addressing current efforts, Nyhontso reaffirmed the department’s unwavering commitment to land reform, characterizing it as both a moral and constitutional imperative. He stated that the government is intensifying its strategies to:

• Restore land rights to those who were historically dispossessed,

• Ensure equitable redistribution of land to previously disadvantaged communities,

• Strengthen legislative tools to protect new landowners and prevent exploitative practices,

• Support sustainable land use through agricultural training, financial assistance, and rural development programmes.

These steps, he noted, are essential to creating a just, inclusive, and prosperous society—one in which land is no longer a source of division but a vehicle for reconciliation and economic empowerment.

A National Reckoning with a Colonial Past

The commemoration of the 1913 Act is not merely symbolic. It serves as a yearly reckoning with a colonial past whose shadows linger in patterns of land ownership and economic disparity. Despite multiple democratic transitions and land claims processes post-1994, a significant portion of South Africa’s arable land remains in the hands of a small minority.

In his address, Minister Nyhontso called for “bold and decisive steps”—urging citizens, lawmakers, and private stakeholders to work collaboratively to undo the injustices of the past. “We cannot build a truly democratic and equal South Africa on a foundation of unresolved land dispossession,” he said.

Moving Toward an Equitable Future

The Minister's remarks come at a time of renewed national debate over land expropriation, rural development, and reparative justice. He concluded by pledging that the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform will continue to be an engine of change, advancing legislation and policies that confront systemic inequality and empower marginalized communities.

“Our land reform efforts are not only about righting historical wrongs,” he said, “but about laying the foundation for a future rooted in equity, dignity, and shared prosperity.”