Communal land must be protected

The relentless pursuit of profit without regard for ecological sustainability not only devastates the environment but also disrupts the traditional ways of life of communities

Communal land, once a pillar of community cohesion and sustainable living, now faces threats from commodification and misuse.

These parcels of land, traditionally owned and managed by local communities, have always been essential to cultural identity and survival.

However, the increasing trend towards commodification, transforming land into tradable assets, brings significant challenges and drawbacks.

While proponents of commodification argue that this shift can stimulate economic growth and provide individuals with financial leverage, the reality on the ground often tells a different story.

The pursuit of profit has resulted in widespread land seizures, displacement of residents, and the erosion of traditional ways of life.

Furthermore, the legal and political systems which enable this change often silence the voices and rights of indigenous people and worsen inequalities and social tensions.

Though this phenomenon unfolds in different forms and scales in different outskirts of the Eastern Cape rural towns, it is seen as a form of neo-colonial struggle for land between the privileged and those living on the fringes of the mainstream economy.

My view on this recurring feature is anchored on the anecdotes which accurately predicted some of SA’S prominent poets on prophesies reflecting the colonial era, and the state of affairs in the post-colonial and democratic dispensation.

Beginning as prophecies and warnings in pre-colonial times, these anecdotes still provide insight into the encroachment of land by powerful forces rendering scores of rural South Africans disenfranchised.

The persistent communal land misuse in rural SA continues to oppose the rationale behind the land struggles, and it is needless to emphasise that this is far from the desired endstate. The state of land misuse, land-use changes, and the commodification of customary land starkly contrast with the historical battles for land through wars of land dispossession, particularly fought in the Eastern Cape.

Highlighting the importance of land, Keorapetse Kgositsile, a prominent anti-apartheid poet, often wrote about the struggle for land and justice, foreseeing the conflicts and resistance that would arise.

In his poem Afar in the Heartlands, he laments: “Afar in the heartlands, The whisper of our ancestors, Foretold the coming storms, Of blood and iron”.

This poem warned South Africans of the inevitable resistance against the encroachment on the lands and Kgositsile’s prophetic voice anticipated and articulated the devastating impact of colonial land theft.

This era was characterised by the colonialists as accumulators of land through dispossession tactics, while the indigenous people remained poor and later turned into peasants in their land.

In a failed retaliation, all the nine wars of land dispossession fought between 1779 and 1878 were an attempt to fight against what Kgositsile refers to as “the coming of storm”.

Though these lamentations remain a testament to the enduring struggle for land and justice in democratic SA, the former victims of land dispossession are slowly becoming the accumulators under the guise of custodianship over customary land.

What was once a pride and beacon hope for rural South Africans is now becoming a commodity at the expense of rural communities, often sold to the highest bidder for meagre reparations.

This is echoed by Mongane Wally Serote in his poem titled For Don M-banned, in which he is at pains trying to warn South Africans of the modern-day selfinflicted dispossession.

Serote says: “We walked the land, our footsteps stirring dust, The same land where our ancestors lay Now it lies barren, parched by neglect. What did we fight for, if not for this earth? Yet we let it slip, misused and abandoned, Our promises turned into whispers on the wind.”

This reflects on the disconnect between the hard-fought struggles for land and freedom and evokes a sense of movement and history, connecting the present to the past.

The consequential land-use shifts and misuse of customary land are indicative of the poor upkeep and care of the land.

On the economic front, these customary land-use shifts could have dire economic implications for the parcels of land which have been demarcated for agricultural activities.

Could the commodification of agricultural land in customary areas be telling of dying agrarian livelihoods?

The traditional leaders are often seen as custodians of culture and protectors of their people’s heritage, yet some have become agents of exploitation, facilitating land grabs for selfbenefit or external investors.

Traditional leaders historically held the role of safeguarding communal lands and ensuring the wellbeing of their communities. However, in the context of neocolonialism, some have used their authority to strike deals with multinational corporations, resulting in land dispossession for personal gain.

This dual role undermines their traditional legitimacy and erodes trust within their communities.

One of the primary threats to communal land stems from environmental exploitation.

These lands, rich in biodiversity and often serving as crucial carbon sinks, are targeted for resource extraction, deforestation and industrial agriculture.

The relentless pursuit of profit without regard for ecological sustainability not only devastates the environment but also disrupts the traditional ways of life of the communities dependent on these pieces of land.

The plundering of communal land not only threatens the environment, but also undermines the social fabric and cultural heritage of indigenous and rural communities.

Displacement and loss of access to ancestral lands disrupt traditional livelihoods and erode cultural identities.

The loss of language, knowledge systems and spiritual connections tied to the land further worsens the impact of encroachment.

If the current trajectory of communal land misuse remains unabated, the rural South African economy will itself be beset by possible scenarios.

The scenarios are based on the trade-offs between relinquishing the communal land for third-party interests or retaining the land for agrarian purposes.

While the former scenario is already unfolding on the of most SA cities, there is still a lifeline to salvage the lifeline of the communal parcels of land.

In the same manner, the current state of communal land misuse in rural SA is a fulfilment of prophesies.

Curbing these scenarios requires not only futuristic measures, it also necessitates the understanding of how the voices of the future generations will relate to the appalling state and the associated socioeconomic consequences of land misuse.

Future generations will one day dub the current state of customary land-use and misuse along with its socioeconomic implications as “the silent cries of the forebears and the curses of the disenchanted modern generation”.

In their disillusionment, they will ask: “How did we get here? Is this the future our forebears imagined?”

They will assert that: “The ears that should have listened to the cries of our forebears to return the land to the indigenes were deafened, the hands that should have worked the land and built on the wishes of the African people were lazed, The legs that should have walked the race of emancipation from landlessness stumbled and The brains that should have carved the future of Africa and her children stagnated.”

The only path to change the tendencies of ignoring the cries of our forebears and avoiding the curses of the disenchanted modern generation is to employ mechanisms to fiercely protect customary land from encroachment by third parties and commoditisation by authorities.

This call to action emphasises the urgency and importance of addressing these issues to prevent future regret and disillusionment.

The commodification of communal land presents a complex interplay between economic development and the preservation of cultural and subsistence values.

While investment in communal lands can drive economic growth, it is crucial to consider and mitigate the adverse effects on local communities.

A balanced approach which includes community participation, sustainable practices, and robust legal protections can help ensure that the benefits of land commodification are equitably shared and that the cultural and subsistence roles of communal lands are preserved for future generations.

As we witness the plight of communal land under siege, we must heed the clarion call for action.

Preserving these invaluable territories goes beyond passive observance; it demands active engagement and unwavering commitment to justice and sustainability.

Strengthening legal protections, fostering community-led conservation efforts, and amplifying the voices of marginalised communities are essential steps in reclaiming the sanctity of communal land and securing a more equitable and harmonious future for rural South Africans.

By standing in solidarity with communal land defenders and advocating for their rights, rural SA can strive towards a more equitable and sustainable future.

What was once a pride and beacon hope for rural South Africans is now becoming a commodity at the expense of rural communities, often sold to the highest bidder for meagre reparations