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South Africa: Integrating land tenure management

In South Africa, 2 tenure systems co-exist: 

  1. the traditional customary system 
  2. the formalised statutory system

Traditional customary systems of land rights are the oldest tenure system. The formalised statutory system stems from colonialism and apartheid. This system only allows formalised land rights described in a title deed to be registered. 

The traditional customary system blocks improvement

Approximately 60% of the population (especially in rural areas) is estimated to hold the traditional customary land rights. This gives insecurity over land rights. The lack of a good functioning land registration system hampers emerging farms to invest when their land is not properly registered. As a result, up-scaling their activities to improve their livelihood and employment opportunities is out of reach.

More about this project

The project has three pillars.

  1. build institutional capacity among involved authorities for land administration, agriculture and spatial planning
  2. Develop a Fit-for-Purpose methodology to record and map unregistered land rights. A pilot area will be selected to develop this methodology
  3. Design with key stakeholders a visualisation of a combined system for the cadastral map and land registry.

Working towards an integrated land system

For the years 2023 and 2024, Kadaster will assist in developing plans for an integrated land registry and cadastre system, including both statutory and customary land rights. A well-functioning land administration is expected to improve possibilities for further development of agriculture and rural areas.

Key stakeholders in Pretoria, Limpopo and Free State in South Africa 

2023 & 2024

News

News item: FIG 2025: advancing inclusive and resilient land governance

The FIG Joint Land Administration Conference took place in Florianópolis in Brazil, from November 3 to 5. Global experts came together to discuss integrated land administration.  

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