Native Trust and Land Act, 1936

The Native Trust and Land Act, 1936 (Act No. 18 of 1936; subsequently renamed the Bantu Trust and Land Act, 1936 and the Development Trust and Land Act, 1936) in South Africa passed a law that served as the reorganization of its agricultural structures. This followed the recommendations of the Beaumont Commission.

Native Trust and Land Act, 1936
Parliament of South Africa
  • Act to provide for the establishment of a South African Native Trust and to define its purposes; to make further provision as to the acquisition and occupation of land by natives and other persons; to amend Act No. 27 of 1913; and to provide for other incidental matters.
CitationAct No. 18 of 1936
Enacted byParliament of South Africa
Royal assent19 June 1936
Commenced31 August 1936
Repealed30 June 1991
Administered byMinister of Native Affairs
Repealed by
Abolition of Racially Based Land Measures Act, 1991
Related legislation
Natives Land Act, 1913
Status: Repealed

This ordinance stipulated that the reserve land, which the black population in the Natives Land Act, 1913 had been allocated of 7.13% (9,709,586 acres) to enlarge to approximately 13.6% of the total area of the then South Africa. This value was not reached and remained so unfulfilled until the 1980s.(Reference 1) As late as 1972 the government purchased 1,146,451 acres to meet this requirement in the homelands.[1]

In view of the fact that the black population accounted for at this time about 61% in the general population, this area ratio was very small. During the Great Depression damage occurring to agricultural land through erosion and overgrazing played a relevant role in the preparation of the Act. At the same time the rights of the black people were as tenant farmers restricted to white owners. From then on, blacks were only allowed to live on farms, which were owned by whites, and the black employees worked on them.

This selling pressure caused by the Act forced many blacks to seek work in salaried employment outside of their family and tribal tradition rooted in residential areas. Destinations of these migrations were the large farms of the whites and the cities, preferably industrial urban centers.[2]

Repeal

The act was repealed by the Abolition of Racially Based Land Measures Act, 1991 on 30 June 1991.

See also

References
  1. Andrea Lang: Separate Development and the Department of Bantu Administration in South Africa. Work from the Institute of African Studies No. 103 Hamburg (composite Foundation German Overseas Institute) 1999, p. 88
  2. Manfred short: Indirect rule and violence in South Africa. Work from the Institute of African Studies No. 30 Hamburg (German Overseas Institute Foundation network), 1981, p. 27


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