The role of a Land Surveyor in TRANCRAA process

Session

Land reform and communal land issues

Full Paper Review

No

Authors

Ndinae Netshivhangoni, Chief Directorate: National Geospatial Information, South Africa,ndinae@live.com

Abstract

In the history of land administration in the republic of South Africa, land in rural communities was put in the South African Development Trust (SADT) and other trusts like Tricameral Authorities. Trust Land is defined as land situated in a board area that vest in the Minister in terms of section 7 of the Rural Areas Act, 1987. After that process of vesting some land was transferred to the trusteeship of the Ministry of Department Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) then called Department of Land Affairs (DLA).

The Department has initiated the process of transferring trust land to its rightful beneficiary through Transformation of Certain Rural Areas Act (TRANCRAA). The DRDLR has in the process declared some of that land as “sites” in terms of the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP). The CRDP was approved by Cabinet in 2009 and it aims to mobilise and empower rural communities to take initiatives and control of land development with the support of government. In a historical milestone of reversing the legacy of the trust land, survey of property boundary is always done prior to transfer of land in terms of the TRANCRAA to ensure that the Land in question is not subjected to any encroachment, people tampering with boundary and beacons, etc.

Subsequent to that the service of a land surveyor and town planner plays a big role into developing comprehensive spatial planning that informs the future development/use of the land. In a historical milestone of reversing the legacy of the 1913 Natives Land Act which shuttered many dreams of black South Africans of owning property and land. The survey of property boundaries is always done before the commencement of TRANCRAA process to ensure that the land in question is not subjected to any encroachment, people tempering with boundary beacons, etc. Subsequent to that the services of land surveyors and planners play a big role into developing comprehensive spatial planning that informs the future development/use of the land.

View This Paper