Recent Changes in Women's Land Rights and Contested Customary Law in South Africa

2012 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aninka Claassens
Author(s):  
Juanita M. Pienaar

In the geographical areas forming the focus of this contribution, the traditional communal areas in former Bantustan and homeland areas in South Africa, communal ownership flows from the application of customary law, linked to the constitutional right to culture. Living customary law, embedded in communities, entails a dynamic system of land rights which are negotiated in line with particular needs. Recent policy and legislative developments, however, seem to bolster rights of traditional authorities, thereby impacting on land rights and effectively negating spontaneous negotiation. Conceptual clarification in this contribution embodies the complexity linked to communal property, specifically land, in light of the aftermath of apartheid, the commencement of an all-encompassing land reform programme and the operation of a dual legal system comprising customary law and Western-style legal paradigms. The challenges and opportunities for law reform are explored in this context of inter-connectedness of customary law and communal property.


Author(s):  
Saim Aksnudin

In the national development the role of land for the fulfillment of various purposes will increase, either as a place to live or for business activities. In relation to that will also increase the need for support in the form of guarantee of legal certainty in the field of land. The result of the research is the conception of the state of Indonesia is a state law, which contains the meaning in the administration of government and the state based on the law, the protection of the law is a universal concept of the rule of law. The legal certainty on land rights as intended by the UUPA encompasses three things, namely the certainty of the object of land rights, certainty on the subject of land rights and certainty about the status of landrights. Legal conception of land title certificate is a proof that issued by authorized legal institution, containing juridical data and physical data which isused as evidence of ownership of land rights in order to provide assurance of legal certainty and certainty of rights to a plot of land owned or possessed by a person or legal entity. With the certificate of rights, it is expected that the juridical can guarantee the legal certainty and the right by the state for the holder of the right to the land. This country's guarantee is granted to the owner or the holder of the certificate may be granted because the land is already registered in the state land administration system.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. 134-160
Author(s):  
Alexander Paterson

The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, recognises customary law as an independent and original source of law, subject to the Constitution itself and legislation that specifically deals with customary law. As recognised by the Constitutional Court in Alexkor Ltd vs the Richtersveld Community (2004), customary law, as an independent source of law, may give rise to rights including rights to access and use natural resources. Rights to access and use natural resources are often comprehensively regulated by legislation. Conflicts between customary law and legislation relevant to natural resources may arise, as evidenced in the case of Mr Gongqose, who along with several other community members were caught fishing in the Dwesa-Cwebe Marine Protected Area situated off the Eastern Cape coastline. Notwithstanding their claims to be exercising their customary rights to fish in the area, they were convicted in the Magistrate’s Court for certain offences in terms of the Marine Living Resources Act (1998), under which the marine protected area had been established. Their appeal to the High Court proved unsuccessful and the Supreme Court of Appeal was tasked with considering the relationship between their customary rights to fish and legislation purportedly extinguishing these rights. The SCA’s judgment in Gongqose & Others vs Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries & Others (2018) is the first of its kind in South Africa to consider the extinguishment of customary rights to access and use natural resources through post-constitutional legislation. This note critically considers the guidance the SCA provided on proving the existence of customary rights to access and use natural resources, and the manner in which they may be extinguished through legislation. While the focus is on marine living resources, the lessons emerging from this case are relevant to other natural resource sectors.


Author(s):  
Razia Nordien-Lagardien ◽  
Blanche Pretorius ◽  
Susan Terblanche

The past decade has shown significant progress in family mediation services in South Africa, following the implementation of the amended Children’s Act of 2005, which has not fully considered issues relating to customary law and culture pertaining to mediation with unmarried fathers. A broader qualitative explorative study was undertaken to understand the experiences and perceptions of unmarried fathers, unmarried mothers and mediators regarding mediation. This article focuses on factors influencing the process and outcomes of mediation for unmarried fathers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of seven unmarried fathers and eight mediators. Factors were identified that influence the process and outcomes of family mediation, of which culture, customary law and family dynamics are the focus of this article. Findings from Xhosa and Zulu participants in the study highlight the need for the inclusion of culturally responsive approaches to family mediation services by foregrounding issues relating to customary law, culture, and unmarried fathers.


Tunas Agraria ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-69
Author(s):  
Ardi Saputra Sinaga ◽  
Julius Sembiring ◽  
Sukayadi Sukayadi

Abstract: Environment and Forestry Ministry established the reserve incense forest of the Pan-dumaan-Sipituhuta Customary Law Community as a customary forest. But in reality, it has not been guaranteed legal certainty regarding the existence and recognition of the rights of the Pan-dumaan-Sipituhuta Customary Law Community. The objective of this research is to know the le-gal status of Indigenous Peoples forest in Pandumaan-Sipituhuta Customary Law at this time, strategy of the land registration of communal right settlement, and constraint and effort done in the land registration of communal right settlement of Pandumaan-Sipituhuta Customary Law Community. This research uses qualitative research method with empirical juridical research form. Based on the results of the study showed that the legal status of the Indigenous Forests of Pandumaan-Sipituhuta Customary Law Society is currently reserved as customary forest of Pan-dumaan-Sipituhuta Customary Law Community. Strategy for resolving communal rights land registration in the incense forest of the Pandumaan-Sipituhuta Customary Law Community through four stages. First, recognition of the existence of the Pandumaan-Sipituhuta Customary Law Community. Secondly, the establishment of customary forests of the Pandumaan-Sipituhuta Customary Law Community by Environment and Forestry Ministry. Third, the Settlement of Land Control in Forest Areas is carried out in accordance with Presidential Regulation Number 88 of 2017 by issuing customary forests of the Pandumaan-Sipituhuta Customary Law Community from forest areas. Fourth, registration of communal land rights of Pandumaan-Sipituhuta Custom-ary Law Community.Keywords: strategy, communal rights, customary forestsIntisari: Kementerian Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan (KLHK) menetapkan pencadangan hutan kemenyan Masyarakat Hukum Adat Pandumaan-Sipituhuta sebagai hutan adat. Tetapi kenyataannya, keadaan tersebut hingga saat ini dinilai belum menjamin kepastian hukum akan keberadaan dan pengakuan hak Masyarakat Hukum Adat Pandumaan-Sipituhuta. Tujuan dari penelitian ini untuk menjelaskan bagaimana strategi penyelesaian pendaftaran tanah hak komunal hutan kemenyan Masyarakat Hukum Adat Pandumaan-Sipituhuta. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode penelitian kualitatif dengan pendekatan yuridis empiris. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa status hukum hutan kemenyan Masyarakat Hukum Adat Pandumaan-Sipituhuta saat ini dicadangkan sebagai hutan adat. Strategi penyelesaian pendaftaran tanah hak komunal hutan kemenyan Masyarakat Hukum Adat Pandumaan-Sipituhuta melalui empat tahapan. Pertama, pengakuan keberadaan Masyarakat Hukum Adat Pandumaan-Sipituhuta. Kedua, penetapan hutan adat Masyarakat Hukum Adat Pandumaan-Sipituhuta oleh KLHK. Ketiga, dilakukan Penyelesaian Penguasaan Tanah dalam Kawasan Hutan sesuai dengan Peraturan Presiden Nomor 88 Tahun 2017dengan cara mengeluarkan hutan adat Masyarakat Hukum Adat Pandumaan-Sipituhuta dari kawasan hutan. Keempat, pendaftaran tanah hak komunal Masyarakat Hukum Adat Pandumaan-Sipituhuta.Kata Kunci : strategi, hak komunal, hutan adat


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