The implications of lack of land tenure on the principle of spatial justice : a case of Kgapane Township ward 3, Limpopo Province

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the implications of the lack of land tenure on the principle of spatial justice at Kgapane Township, Ward 3 in Limpopo Province. South Africa’s history records majority of white South Africans having an opportunity to live within the city centres whereas townships became home to Black, Indian, and colored populations as a result of discriminatory land use planning practices during the colonial period. The geographical pattern of land usage in South African cities today shows that many Black and Colored people still do not have land tenure to the land they now inhabit. The lack of land tenure has exacerbated a number of of issues in urban areas, including land-grabbing, informal settlements, urban sprawl, disputes over land, and a rise in land sales. The study adopted a mixed research method (quantitative and quantitative) to describe and articulate the extent at which land tenure scarcity impairs the progression of the principle of spatial justice. The researcher used a questionnaire, interviews and observation methods to collect primary data. The researcher used a questionnaire to solicit data from 108 individuals, who were selected using simple random sampling and purposive sampling. In addition, qualitative data were collected through one-on-one interviews, observation and literature review. Interviews were conducted with three stakeholders, namely; a municipal official, a community representative and a traditional leader. Theory of right to the city and land rights were adopted as epistolomological approaches to inform the study. Findings of the study indicate that population growth, inadequate spatial planning, corruption and power battles resulted in squatter camps and informal settlements, which make it more difficult for spatial planners to bring new spatial developments. The principle of spatial justice, which is brought forward by the SPLUMA Act 12 of 2013 was designed to foster efficient and effective land administration and management. Through the principle of spatial justice, township people can attain their land rights by having access to registered land parcels and title deeds. The study comes to the conclusion that there is still more work to be done by the South African government to address the spatial inefficiencies caused by apartheid spatial planning that are ingrained in the topography of the nation.