The land restitution policy programme and its implications on rural development in the North West Province : the case of Hartebeeslagte and Swartrand (Mogopa)

Abstract

The study looked at the role played by the Land Restitution in the socio-economic development of the Mogopa villagers in the village now called Eastern District of North West Province. The investigation of the land reform was viewed in terms of addressing the imbalances in land ownership and the untenable situation of forced removal of the Ba-Mogopa people from their land (Mogopa) and forcibly dumped at Pachsdraai government camp by government beaurocrats. The key findings of the investigation revealed that after concerted efforts and much political persuasion, the Bakwena Ba-Mogopa community were finally given back their land and were resettled at Mogopa between Swartrand farm and Hartebeeslaagte farm in 1991. The study recommended that the government should promote rural development in land restituted communities in order to improve the standards of living of the people. The goal of the land restitution policy here was to restore land to people dispossessed by racially discriminatory legislation in such a way as to provide support to the vital process of reconciliation, reconstruction and development.