Government Gazette REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA Vol. 469 Cape Town 20 July 2004 No. 26590 THE PRESIDENCY No. 861 20 July 2004 It is hereby notified that the President has assented to the following Act, which is hereby published for general information:– No. 11 of 2004: Communal Land Rights Act, 2004. AIDS HELPLINE: 0800-123-22 Prevention is the cure ~ ~~ ~~ ~~~~~~~~~ 2 No. 26590 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, COMMUNAL LAND RIGHTS ACT, 20 JULY 2004 Act No. 11,2004 2004 GENERAL EXPLANATORY NOTE: ] Words in bold type in square brackets indicate omissions from existing enactments. Words underlined with a solid indicate line insertions existing enactments. in (English text signed by the President.) (Assented to 14 July 2004.) ACT. To provide for legal security of tenure by transferring communal land, including KwaZulu-Natal Ingonyama land, to communities, or by awarding comparable redress; to provide for the conduct of a land rights enquiry to determine the transition fromold order rights to new order rights; to provide for the democratic administration of communal land by communities; to provide for Land Rights Boards; to provide for the co-operative performance of municipal functions on communal land; to amend or repeal certain laws; and to provide for matters incidental thereto. B E IT ENACTED by the follows:- Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, as ARRANGEMENT OF ACT Sections CHAPTER 1 DEFINITIONS AND APPLICATION OF ACT 5 1. 2. Definitions Application of Act CHAPTER 2 JURISTIC PERSONALITY AND LEGAL SECURITY TENURE OF 10 3. 4. Juristic personality of community Security of tenure CHAPTER 3 TRANSFER AND REGISTRATION OF COMMUNAL LAND 5. 6. Registrationof communallandand new order rights Transfer of communal land 15 4 ~ No. 26590 ~~ ~~ GOVERNMENT GAZETI'E, 20 JULY 2004 COMMUNAL LAND RIGHTS ACT, 2004 Act No. 11,2004 Surveying 7. 8. 9. 10. 1 1. Functions of conveyancer Registration of subsequent transactions Conversion of registered new orderrightintofreeholdownership Transfer costs and stampduties and registration costs 5 CHAPTER 4 PROVISION OF COMPARABLE REDRESS WHERE TENURE CANNOT BE LEGALLY SECURED 12. Award of comparable redress 13.Cancellation of oldorderright 10 CHAPTER 5 THE CONDUCT OF LAND RIGHTS ENQUIRY 14. 15. 15. 17. 18. Land rights enquiry Designation orappointment of land rightsenquirer N o 1 ice of land rights enquiry Powers and duties of land rightsenquirer Determination by Minister 15 CHAPTER 6 CONTENT, MAKING AND REGISTRATION OF COMMUNITY RULES 19. 20. Content, making and registration of community rules Amendment of community rules 20 CHAPTER 7 LAND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE 21. 22. 23. 24. Establishment of land administration committee Composition Term of office Powers and duties 25 CHAPTER 8 LAND RIGHTS BOARD 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. Establishment of Land Rights Board Composition Disqualificaticn as E c x d member Powers and duties of Board Resources of Board Service conditions of Board members 30 35 CHAPTER 9 KWAZULU-NATAL INGONYAMATRUST LAND 3 1. 32. 33. Laws governing KwaZulu-Natal IngonyamaTrust Land Ingonyama Land Rights Board for KwaZulu-Natal Reconstitution of KwaZulu-Natal Land Rights Board 40 6 No. 26590 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, COMMUNAL LAND RIGHTS ACT, 2004 20 IULY 2004 Act No. 11,2004 34. 35. Powers and duties in relation to Ingonyama land Inconsistency in laws CHAPTER 10 GENERAL PROVISIONS 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. Provision of assistance to community 5 Provision of municipal services and development infrastructure on communal land Acquisition of land by Minister Application of Act to other land reform beneficiaries Extension of access to courts 10 Offences Penalties Delegation of powers Regulations Act binds State 15 Amendment and repeal of laws Short title and commencement SCHEDULE CHAPTER 1 DEFINITIONS AND APPLICATION OF ACT Definitions 20 1. In this Act, unless the context indicates otherwise“beneficial occupation” means the occupation of land by a person for a continuous period of not less than five years prior to 31 December 1997 as if that person was the owner, without force, openly and without the permission of the owner, and “beneficially occupied” has a corresponding meaning; “Board” except in Chapter 9, means a Land RightsBoard established in terms of section 25; “communal land” means land contemplated in section 2 which is, or is to be, occupied or used by members of a community subject to the rules or custom of that community; “Community” means a group of persons whose rights to land are derived from shared rules determining access to land held in common by such group; “community rules” means the rules registered in terms of section 19(1); “comparable redress” means the redress contemplated in Chapter 4; “Constitution” means the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act No. 108 of 1996); “Deed of Communal Land Right” means a deed in terms of which a new order right is registered in the game of a person as contemplated i11 section 6 ; “Deeds Registries Act” means the Deeds Registries Act, 1937 (Act No. 47 of 1937); “Department” means the Department of Land Affairs; “Director-General’’means the Director-General of Land Affairs; “land administration committee” means a land administration committee established in terms of section 21; “land rights enquirer” means a land rights enquirer designated or appointed in terms of section 15; “Minister” means the Minister responsible for Land Affairs; 25 30 35 40 45 8 No. 26590 GOVERNMENT GAZETE, 20 JULY 2004 COMMUNAL LAND RIGHTS ACT, 2004 Act No. 11,2004 or formal not does “new order right”means a tenure or other in communal or other land right which has been confirmed, converted, conferred or validated the Minister in termsof by section 18; “old order right”means a tenure or otherright in or to communal landwhich(a) is 5 (b) is registered or unregistered; (cj derives from or is recognised by law, including customary law, practice or usage; and (dj exists immediatelyprior to a determination by the Minister in terms of section 18, but 10 include(i) any right or interest of a tenant, labour tenant, sharecropper or employee if such right or interest is purely of a contractual nature; and (ii) any right or interest based purely on temporary permission granted the by owner or lawful occupierof the land in question, on thebasis that such permission may at anytimebewithdrawn by suchownerorlawful 15 occupier; “prescribed” means prescribed by regulation in terms of this Act; “this Act”includes any regulations made underthis Act; and “traditional council” means a traditional council as defined in section 1 of the Traditional Leadership and Governance 2003. Framework Act, 20 Application of Act 2. (1) This Act appliesto(a) State land which is beneficially occupied and State land which(i) at any time vested in a government cohtemplated in the Self-governing Territories Constitution Act, 197 (Act No. 21 of 1971), before its repeal 25 1 or of theformerRepublics of Transkei,Bophuthatswana, Venda or Ciskei, or in the South African Development Trust establishedsection by 4 of the Development Trust and L a d Act, 1936 (Act 18 of 1936), but No. not land which vested in the formkr South African Development Trust and which has been disposed in terns of the State Land Disposal Act, of 30 1961 (Act No. 48 of 1961); (ii) was listed in the schedules to the Black Land Act, 1913 (Act No. 27 of 1913), before its repeal or the schedule of released areas in terms of the Development Trust and Land Act, 1936 (Act 18 of 1936); befort! its No. repeal; 35 (b) land to which the KwaZulu-Natal Ingonyama Trust Act, 1994 (Act 3 KZ No. of 1994), applies, to the extent provided for in Chapter 9 of this Act; (c) land acquiredby or for a community whether registered in its name or not; and (d) any other land, including land which provides equitable access to land to a community as contemplated section in 25(5) of the Constitution. 40 (3) The Minister may,by notice in the Gazette, determine land contemplated in subsection ( l ) ( d ) and may in such notice specify which provisionsof this Act apply to such land. 10 No. 26590 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 20 JULY 2004 COMMUNAL LAND RIGHTS ACT, Act No. 11,2004 2004 CHAPTER 2 JURISTIC PERSONALITY AND LEGAL SECURITY OF TENURE Juristic personality of community 3. Upon the registration of its rules in terms of section 19(1), a community acquires juristic personality with perpetual succession regardless of changes in its membership 5 and it may, subject to such rules, this Act and any other law, in its own name(a) acquire and hold rights and incur obligations; and (bj own, encumber by mortgage, servitude or otherwise and dispose of movable and immovable property and otherwise deal with such propertysubject to any title or 10 Security of tenure 4. (1) A community or person is entitled to the extent and in the manner provided for in this Act and within the available resources of the State, either to tenure which is legally secure or to comparable redress if the tenure of land of such community or perjon is legally insecure as a result of past racially discriminatory laws or practices. 1.5 (2) An old order right held by a married perscnis, despite any law, practice, usage or registration to the contrary, deemed to held byall spousesin a marriage in be which such person is a spouse, jointly in undivided shares irrespective of the matrimonial property regime applicable to such marriage and must, confirmation or conversion interms of on section 18(3), be registered innames the of all such spouses. 20 (3) A woman is entitled to the same legally secure tenure, rights in or to land and benefits from land as is a man, and no law, community or other rule, practice or usage may discriminate against any person on the ground of the gender of such person. conditions. other CHAPTER 3 TRANSFER AND REGISTRATION OF COMMUNAL LAND Registration of communal land and new order rights 25 other any 5. (1) Communalland andnew order rights arecapableof beingand mustbe registered inthe name of the community or person, including a woman, entitled to such land or right in terms of this Act and the relevant community rules. (2) Despite law30 (a) on the making of a determination by the Minister in terms of section 18, the ownership of communal land which is not Stateland but whichis registered in the name of(i) aperson; (ii) a traditional leader or traditional leadership whether recognised in terms 35 of law or not; (iii) a communal property association contemplated in the Communal Property Associations Act, I996 (Act No. 28 of 1996); or ~ ~~ ~ ~~~ 12 No. 26590 GOVERNMENT G m l T E , 20 JULY 2004 Act No. 11,2004 COMMUNAL LAND RIGHTS ACT, 2004 (iv) a trust or other legal entity, vests in the community on whose behalf such landis held or in whoseinterest such registration was effected, and such land remains subject to limitations and restrictions in relation to and rights or entitlements to such land; (b) the community referred to in paragraph (a) succeeds in all respects as the5 successor in title to such person, traditional leader or traditional leadership, communal property association, trust or other legal entity; (c) the title deed relating to land contemplated in paragraph (a) and any mortgage bond or other deed registered in respect of such land must, in the prescribed manner, be endorsed by the Registrar of Deeds to reflect the community as the 10 registered owner of such land; and (d) the provisions of this Act must apply with the necessary changes to land contemplated in paragraph (a). (3) (a)A document evidencing an old order right which is cancelled or replaced by a new order right in terms of this Act, must be lodged with the Registrar of Deeds, who 15 must endorse such document as having been cancelled. ( b )If a documentcontemplated in paragraph (a) cannot be lodged, Registrar must the accept an appropriate affidavit to that effect by the holder of such right or the Minister. 'Ik.;-mferof communal land 6. After making determination in terms of section the a 18, Minister must- 20 ( a ) transfer the entire communalland determined by her or him to be the land to which a community is entitled, to such community subject to the conditions contemplated in section 18(4) which are applicable to such land; ( b ) despite any other law to the contrary, on behalf of such community and in respect of such land25 (i) have a communal general plan prepared and approved in terms of the Land Survey Act, 1997 (Act No. 8 of 1997); (ii) have such plan registered and have a communal land register opened in terms of the Deeds Registries Act; (iii] transfer, by means of a Deed of Communal Land Right or other 30 appropriate deed, the new order rights to theperson or persons entitled to such rights; and (c) do any other things necessary to give effect to that determination and this section. Functions of conveyancer 35 7. A suitably qualified official of the Department may perform the functions of a conveyancer required in terms of the Deeds Registries Act. Registration of subsequent transactions 8. Registrable transactions in respect of communal land, includingnew allocations of rights in such land, arising after the opening of a communal land register, must be 40 registered in terms or' t h i s Act and the Seeds Registries Act. Conversion of registered new order right into freehold ownership 9. (1) The holderof a registered new order right may apply to the community owning the land to which such right relates for the conversion of such right into freehold ownership. 45 ~ ~~~ 14 No. 26590 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, COMMUNAL LAND RIGHTS ACT, 2004 20 JULY 2004 Act No. 11,2004 (2) After considering an application referred to in subsection (l), such community must, subject to its community rules and any applicable title conditions, approve or reject such application. (3) If a community approves an application in terms of subsection (2), it may impose any condition or reserve any right in favour of the community. (4) On application by the holder referred to in subsection (l), the Registrar of Deeds must in the prescribed manner record the conversion contemplated in this section. 5 Transfer costs and stamp duties 10. Transfer duty, value-added tax, stamp duty and deeds registration fees of office are not payable in respect of any registration required to give effect to sections 5 and 6. 10 Surveying and registrationcosts 11. The Minister may, from money appropriated by Parliament for this purpose, pay the costs of surveying and registration required to give effect to sections 5 and 6. CHAPTER 4 PROVISION OF COMPARABLE REDRESS WHERE TENURE CANNOT BE 15 LEGALLY SECURED Award of comparable redress 12. (1) The Minister may, on application by the holder of an old order right which is insecure as contemplated in section 25(6) of the Constitution and which cannot bemade legally secure, determine an award of comparable redress to such holder. 20 (2) An award in terms of subsection (1) may comprise( a ) land other than the land to which the applicable old order right relates or a right in such other land: (b) compensation in money or in any other form; or (c) a combination of land or a right in land contemplated in paragraph (a) and 25 compensation contemplated in paragraph (b). (3) The provisions of section 18, read with the necessary changes, apply to a determination in terms of this section. Cancellation of old order right 13. For the purposes of this Act the Minister may, with the written agreement of the 30 holder of an old order right and on such conditions as may be agreed to, cancel such right. CHAPTER 5 THE CONDUCT OF LAND RIGHTS ENQUIRY Land rights enquiry 14. (1) Prior to securing an old order right in terms of section 4 or transferring communalland to a community or person in terms of section 6 or determining comparable redress in terms of section 12, the Minister must institute a land rights enquiry. 35 16 No. 26590 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 20 JULY 2004 COMMUNAL LAND RIGHTS ACT, Act No. 11,2004 2004 (2) A land rights enquiry must enquire into(a) the nature and extent of all(i) constitutional and human; (ii) old order and other land and tenure; and (iii) competing or conflicting, 5 rights, interests and tenure of land, whether legally secure or not which are or may be affected by such enquiry; (b) the interests of the State; (c) the options available for legally securing any legally insecure rights; (d) the provision of access to land on an equitable basis; 10 ( e ) spatial planning and land use management, land development, and the necessity for conducting a development or a de-densification or other land reform programme, and the nature of such programme; (f) the need for comparable redress and the nature and extent of such redress; (g) the measures required to ensure compliance with section 4 and to promote 15 gender equality in the allocation,registration and exercise of new order rights; (h) any matter relevant to a determination to be made by the Minister in terms of section 18; ( i ) any other matter as prescribed or as instructed by the Minister, 2nd must endeavour to resolve any dispute relating to land and rights in, or to, land and 20 a report on such matters must be submitted to the Minister. Designation or appointment of ladd rights enquirer 15. (1) TheMinister may in theprescribed manner designate an officer of the Department or appoint a suitable person who is not such an officer to conduct a land rights enquiry. 25 (2) The Minister may, with the concurrence of the Minister of Finance, remunerate and pay allowances to a land rights enquirer who is not a State official. Notice of land rights enquiry 16. The Minister must, in the appropriate national, regional and local media and in the prescribed manner, publish30 (a) a notice of an enquiry inviting interested parties to participate in such enquiry; and ( b ) a notice regarding the determinationsmade consequent upon a completed land rights enquiry. Powers and duties of land rights enquirer 35 17. (1) A land rights enquirer must conduct a land rights enquiry in the prescribed manner, which must be open and transparent and must afford the communities and persons who may be affected by such enquiry an opportunity to participate in such enquiry. (2) A land rights enquirer must adopt measures to ensure that decisions made by a 40 cemmmity are in genera! the inferme:! m demscratic decisi~nsf the rnzjsrity ~f the d s members of such community who are 18 years of age or older and are present or represented by a proxy at a community meeting of which adequate notice of not less than 21 days was given. (3) A land rights enquiry report contemplated in section 14(2) must45 ( a ) include recommendations in respect of the matters which require detenninations to be made by the Minister; 18 No. 26590 GOVERNMENT GAZETIE, 20 JTJLY 2004 COMMUNAL LAND RIGHTS ACT, 2004 Act No. 11,2004 ( b ) prior to being submittedto the Minister, be made available on adequate notice for inspection by any interested community or person who must be afforded an opportunity to make representations in relation to any matter relevant to such enquiry; and (cj be submitted to Minister the together with any representations such and 5 supporting documents for his or her consideration. (4) Whenever relevant to an enquiry, a land rights enquirer and any person assisting such enquirer, may in the prescribed manner and having regard to the constitutional rights of affected persons(a) compel the provision of verbal written and evidence; 10 ( b ) enter and search premises and take possession of documents and articles; and (c) convene and attend meetings of interested persons. ( 5 ) A land rightsenquirer has all other powers anddutieswhich theMinister determines are necessary for the effective conduct of such enquiry. Determination by Minister 15 18. (1) If the Minister, having received a report by a land rights enquirer, satisfied is that the requirements of this Act have been met, he or she must, subject to subsections (4) ( 5 ) and having regard toand ( a ) such report; (bj all relevant law, including customary law and law governing spatial planning, 20 local government and agriculture; (c) the old order rights of all affected right holders; ( d } the need to provide access to land on an equitable basis; and ( e ) the need to promote gender equality in respect of land, make determination as contemplated subsections (2) and (3). a in 25 (2) The Ministermust, where applicable, determine the location and extent land of the to be transferred to a community or person. (3) The Minister must, subject to subsections (4) and ( 3 , determine that(a) the whole of an area of communal land which is, or is to be, surveyed be must registered or remain registered in the name of a specified community: 30 (b) the whole of an area contemplated in paragraph ( a ) is to be subdivided into portions of land, eachof which must beregistered inthe name of a person and not a community; (c) a part of an area contemplated in paragraph ( ) a(i) mustberegisteredorremain registered inthename of a specified 35 community, and part of such land must be subdivided and registered as contemplated in paragraph () and 6; (ii) is reserved to the State; and (d) an old order right is to be(i) confirmed: 40 (ii) converted into ownership or into a comparable new order right, and the Minister must determine the nature and extent of such right; or (iii) cancelled in accordance with Chapter 4 and(aa) the land to which such right relates must be incorporated into land held or to be held by a community; and 45 (bbj the holder of such right must be awarded specified comparable redress as contemplated in Chapter 4. (4) In making a determination in terms of this section, the Minister must take into account the Integrated Development Plan each municipality having jurisdiction and, of after consultation with the Minister responsible for local government, each municipality 50 and other land-use regulator having jurisdiction may(a) reserve aright to theState,includingamunicipality, and stipulate any land-use or other condition which in her or his opinion is necessary(i) for a public purpose or which is in the public interest; 20 KO. 26590 COMMUNAL RIGHTS LAND ACT, GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2004 20 JULY 2004 Act No. 11,2004 (ii) to protect the affected land, rights in such land, an owner of such land and a holder of such rights; or (iii) to give effect to this Act; (b) confer a new order right on a woman(i) who is a spouse of a male holder of an old order right, to be held jointly 5 with her spouse; (ii) who is the widow of a maleholder of an old order right, or who otherwise succeeds to such right, to be held solely by such woman; or (iii) in her own right; and (c) validate a putative old order right which was acquired in good faith and 10 declare invalid such a right which was not acquired in good faith, and must determine the holder or holders of a new order right. ( 5 ) The Minister may not make a determination in terms of this section which relates to land and a rightin, orto, land which is directly affected by a disputeuntil such dispute is resolved by mediation, other alternative traditional or non-traditional dispute 15 resolution mechanism or by a court, and must adopt measures to ensure that such dispute is resolved. CHAPTER 6 CONTENT, MAKING ANT) HEGISTRATION OF COMMUNITY R!'LES Content, making and registration of community rules 19. (1) A community whose communal land is, or is to be, registered in its name must in the prescribed manner, to which the provisions of section 17(1) and (2) read with the necessary changes apply, make and adopt its community rules and have them registered. (2) Community rules must, subject to any other applicable laws, regulate(a) the administration and use of communal land by thecommunity as land owner within the framework of law governing spatial planning and local government; (b) such matters as may be prescribed; and (c) any matter considered by the community to be necessary. (3) Community rules are binding on the community and its members and must be accessible to thepublic and are on registration deemed to be a matter of public knowledge. (4) ( a ) A community must apply to the Director-General for the registration of its adopted rules and he orshe must refer such application to the Board having jusisdiction in thereport area for a on the suitability of such rules. (b)The Director-General must consider the adopted community rules, any information submitted and the report of the Land Rights Board having jurisdiction in the area. (c)If the Director-General is satisfied that the adopted community rules comply with the requirements of the Constitution and this Act,a Registration Officer in the Department designated by her or him for that purpose must, in the prescribed manner, register such rules. (d) If the Director-General is not satisfied that community rules comply with the requirements and intention of the Constitution and this Act, she or he must notify the community of the steps to be taken to make such rules so comply. ( 5 ) Shouldacommunity fail to adopt and have community rules registered, the standard rules prescribed by regulation as adapted by the Minister to such community, are deemedto be the rules of such community and must be registered as the rules of such community. 20 25 30 35 40 45 GOVERNMENT 20 26590 No. GAZETTE, 22 Act No. 11,2004 COMMUNAL RIGHTS LAND ACT, 2004 JULY 2004 Amendment of community rules 20. ( l j A community may, in a general meeting and in the manner applicable to the adoption of community rules, amend or revoke any community rule. (2) An amendment or revocation contemplated in subsection (1) must he registered and only becomes effective on registration. CHAPTER 7 LAND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE Establishment of land administration committee 21. (1) A community must establish a landadministration committee which may only be disestablished if its existence is no longer required in terms of this Act. 10 (2) If a community has a recognised traditional council, the powers and duties of the land administration committee of such community may be exercised and performed by such council. (3) In the exercise of the powers and the performance of the duties of aland admjnistratim~committee as contemplated in subsection \2), a tradition21 pouncil must IS ensure t h i t i h c ::omposition of its membership saiisfies th: rcyuirements of section '22(4) and (5). (4) When a traditional council acts as a land administration committee as contemplated in this section, its functional area of competence is the administration of land affairs and not traditional leadership as contemplated in Schedule 4 to the 20 Constitution. ( 5 ) Any provision in this Act'which refers, or is applicable, to a traditional council is intended to establish norms and standards and a national policy with regard to communal land rights, to effect uniformity across the nation. Composition 5 25 22. (1)A land administration committee mustconsist of a total number of members as determined by the applicable community rules and must comply with this section. (2) Subject to section 21 (2),the members of a land administration committee mustbe persons not holding any traditional leadership position and must be elected by the community in the prescribed manner. (3) At least one third of the total membership of a land administration committee must be women. (4) One member of a land administration committee must represent the interests of vulnerable community members, including women, children the youth, the elderly and and the disabled. ( 5 ) Each of(a) the Minister, in respect of the Department: (b) the chairperson of the relevant Land Rights Board; (c) the relevant provincial Member of the Executive Councilresponsible for agriculture; (' the relevant provincial Member of the Executive Council responsible for local a) government matters: and (e) every municipality in whose area of jurisdiction a land administration committee functions, may designate aperson to be a non-voting member of a land administration committee. Term of office 23. The term of office of the members of a land administration committee is detemincd by community rdes but may not exceed a period of five years. 30 35 40 45 GOVERNMENT GAZETIE, 20 JULY 2004 Act No. 11,2004 COMMUNAL LAND RIGHTS ACT, 2004 Powers and duties committee 24. (1) To the extent provided by this Act and subject to any other applicable law, a land administration committee represents a community owning communal land and has the powers and duties conferred on it by this Act and the rules of such community. (2) A decision by a land administration committee which has the effect of disposing of communal land or a right in communal land to any person, including a community member, does not have force and effect until ratified in writing by the Board having jurisdiction. (3) In the exercise of its powers and the performance of its duties a land administration musttake measures towards ensuring(i) the allocation by such committee, after a determination by the Minister in terms of section 18, of new order rights to persons, including women, the disabled and the youth, in accordance with the law; and (ii) the registration of communal land and of new order rights; establish and maintain registers and records of all new order rights and transactions affecting such rights as may be prescribed or as may be required by the rules; promote and safeguard the interests of the ccmmunity and its members in t k i r land; endeavour to promote co-operation among community members and with any other person in dealing with matters pertaining to land; assist in the resolution of land disputes; continuously liaise with therelevant municipality, Board and any other institution concerning the provision of services and the planning and development of the communal land of the community; perform any other duty prescribed by or under this Act or any other law; and generally deal with all matters necessary for or incidental to the exercise of its powers and the performance of its duties. ~~ 5 10 15 20 25 CHAPTER 8 LAND RIGHTS BOARD Establishment of Land Rights Board 30 25. The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette(a) establish one or more Land Rights Boards having jurisdiction in such areas as she or he may determine; and 35 (b) disestablish a Board or amend its area of jurisdiction. Composition area 26. (1) Members of a Board must be appointed by the Minister in accordance with the prescribed nomination and selection processes. (2) A Eioard consists of40 one representative from each of the organs of State determined by the Minister; two members nominated by each Provincial House of Traditional Leaders contemplated in section 212(2)(a) of the Constitution having jurisdiction in the of that Board; 45 onemember nominated by institutions or persons in the commercial or industrial sector; seven members from the affected communities, of whom at least(i) one must represent the interests of child-headed households; (ii) one must represent the interests of persons with disabilities; 50 26 . GOVERNMENT No. 26590 GAZETEE, 20 COMMUNAL RIGHTS2004 LAND ACT, JULY 2004 Act No. 11,2004 perform (iii) one must represent the interests of the youth as defined in section 1 of the National Youth Commission Act, 1996 (Act No. 19 of 1996); and (iv) one must represent the interests of female-headed households. (3) In appointing members of a Board, the Minister must( a ) have due regard to the required knowledge of land, land tenure, old and new 5 order rights and the required capabilities, including relevant skills, expertise and experience; and ( b ) ensure that at least a third of the Board members are women. (4) A member of a Board is appointed for a period of five years but the Minister may in her or his discretion extend such termof office by a further periodnot exceeding six 10 months until a new Board member has been appointed. (5) ( a ) The Minister must, after consultation with the appointed Board members, appoint a chairperson and a deputy chairperson from among such members. (b)When a chairperson is unable to perform or his duties, thedeputy chairperson her must such duties. 15 (6) The Minister must publish in Gazette the names of, andposition held by, each the appointee to a Board, the date on which each appointment takes effect and such other information as may be prescribed. (7) If a memberof a Board dies or vacates herhis office before the expiry of her or or 111s e m of office, the Minister may appoint a person to fill the vacancy for the remaining . X r pcdion of such term. Disqualification as Board member 27. (1) The Minister must not appoint as a member of a Board a personw h o is not a South African citizen or a permanent resident and is not ordinarilv resident the Republic; is an unrehabilitated insolvent; is declared by a court of law to be mentally incompetent or is detained under the Mental Health Act, 1973 (Act No. 18 of 1973), or any other applicable law; has been removed from an office of trust on account of improper conduct; has had his or her name removed from professional register on account of any misconduct and who has not been reinstated; has been determined by a court, tribunal or forum as contemplated by the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, 2000 (Act No. 4 of 2000), to have contravened section 7 or any other provision of that Act; or is an electedpolitical representative inthe national, provincial or local sphere of government. (2) A member of a Board must vacate her or office if she or hehis ( a ) becomes disqualifiedin terms ofsubsection (1) from being appointed as a member of a Board; ( b ) resigns by written notice addressed to the Minister; (c) is removed from office by the Minister on reasonable grounds, after consultation with the Board; or id) has, without the leave of the Eoarci, been absent from two or more meetings of the Board during a continuous twelve-month period. in 25 30 35 40 45 Powers and dutiesof Board 28. (1) A Board must, in the prescribed mannerand inrespect ofanymatter contemplated by or incidental tothis Act( a ) advisetheMinister and adviseand assist acommunitygenerally and in 50 particular with regard to matters concerning sustainable land ownership and use, thedevelopment of landand theprovisionofaccess tolandon an equitable basis; ( b ) liaise with all spheres of government, civil institutions and other institutions; 28 GOVERNMENT No. 26590 GAZETTE, ~ ~~~ 20 JLJLY 2004 COMMUNAL LAND RIGHTS ACT, Act No. 11,2004 2004 (c) monitor compliance with the Constitution and this Act; and (d) exercise any other power and perform any other duty in terms of this Act or assigned to such Board by the Minister. (2) A Board and any Board member acting inLher or his official capacity may, in the exercise of a power or in the performance of a (duty of a Board5 (a) at any time enter upon any communal land; ( b ) enquire into any relevant matter; ( c ) inspect any document in the possession of any land administration committee or any rights holder concerning old and new order rights and make copies of such document; and 10 (d) convene and attend meetings of EL community or land administration committee. (3) A Board has all powers necessary or incidental to the performance of its duties. Resources of Board 29. The Department must, from monies appropriated by Parliament for this purpose, 15 providea Board with the staff, accommodation and financial and other resources required by such Board. Service conditions of Board members 30. The Minister must, in terms of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No. 1 of 1999), determine 20 (a) the conditions of service of Board members; and (h) with the concurrence of the Minister of Finance, the remuneration and allowances payable to Board members who are not employed by the State from monies appropriated by Parliamlznt for this purpose. CHAPTER 9 KWAZULU-NATAL INGONYAMATRUST LAND Laws governing KwaZulu-Natal Ingonyama Trust Land 31. Communal land to which the KwaZulu-Natal Ingonyama Trust Act, 1994 (Act No. 3 KZ of 1994), applies is, fromthe date of commencement of this Act, governed by the provisions of that Act as amended by this Act and, tothe extent provided for in this 30 Chapter, by the provisions of this Act. 25 Ingonyama Land Rights Board for KwaZulu-Natal 32. From the date of commencement of this Act, the KwaZulu-Natal Ingonyama Trust Board established by section 2A of the KwaZulu-Natal Ingonyama Trust Act, 1994 (Act No. KZ of 35 (a) is known as the Ingonyama Land Rights Board for KwaZulu-Natal; ( ) constitutes both the Board so established by that Act and, despite the 6 provisions of sections 25, 26 and 27 of this Act, the Land Rights Board for KwaZulu-Natal as contemplated in Chapter 8, with all the powers and duties provided for in both the KwaZulu-Natal Ingonyama Trust Act, 1994, and in 40 this Act; (c) is headed in perpetuity by the Ingonyama referred to in section 13 of the KwaZulu Amakhosi and Iziphakanyiswa Act, 1990 (Act No. 9 KZ of 1990), or its successors in title or nominee as the chairperson and member of the Ingonyama Land Rights Board; and 45 3 1994)- 30 GOVERNMENT No. 26590 20 GAZETIE, JULY 2004 COMMUNAL LAND RIGHTS ACT, 2004 Act No. 11,2004 (d) continues to be constituted by the Ingonyama and the members appointed by the Minister in terms of section 2A of the KwaZulu-Natal Ingonyama Trust Act, 1994, until it is reconstituted in. terms of section 33 of this Act. Reconstitution of KwaZulu-Natal Land Rights Board 33. (1) Upon the termination of the term of office of the appointed members of the KwaZulu-Natal Ingonyama Land Rights Board immediately after the date of commencement of this Act, the Board must be reconstituted in terms of sections 26 and 27. (2) From the date of such termination all the provisions of Chapter 8, with the exception of section 25(a), apply to such Board. Powers and duties in relation to Ingonyama land 5 10 34. From the date of commencement of this; Act, the powers and duties provided for in relation to land to which the KwaZulu-Natal IngonyamaTrust Act, 1994 (Act No. 3 KZ of 1994), applies, must be exercised or performed by( a ) such Board, when communal land is' transferred to a community or person in terms of section 6; 15 ( b ) the Minister, after consultation with :such Board, when cancelling an ola order right in terms of section 13; ( c ) the Minister or such Board, when a landrights enquiry is instituted In terms of section 14(1); (d) the Minister, in relation to the designation of an officer of the Department or 20 such Board in relation to the appointment of a suitable person who is not such an officer, when a land rights enquirer is designated or appointed in terms of section 15; and ( e ) the Minister or such Board, when a notice of aland rights enquiry or a determination is published in terms of section 16. 25 Inconsistency in laws 35. In the event of any inconsistency between this Act and theKwaZulu-Natal Ingonyama Trust Act, 1994 (Act No. 3 KZ of 1994), this Act prevails. CHAPTER 10 GENERAL PROVISIONS Provision of assistance to community 36. The Minister may designate an officer of the Department to assist a communityor person to give effect to the implementation of this Act. Provision of municipal services and development infrastructure on communal land 37. Despite the other piGvisiGiis of this Act a-nd the provisions of a y other law, no law 35 must prohibit a municipality from providing services and development infrastructure and from performing its constitutional functions on communal land however held or owned. 30 32 No. 26590 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 20 JULY 2004 COMMUNAL LAND RIGHTS ACT, 2004 Act No. 11,2004 Acquisition of land by Minister 38. (1) The Minister may, for the purposes of this Act, purchase, acquire in any other manner or, consistent with section 3 of the F’romotion of Administrative Justice Act, 2000 (Act No. 3 of 2000), expropriate land, a portion of land or a right in land. (2) The ExpropriationAct,1975 (Act No. 63 of 1975), must, with the necessary 5 changes, apply to an expropriation under this Act, and any reference to the Minister of Public Works in that Act must beconstrued as a reference to the Minister for thepurpose of such expropriation. (3) Where the Minister expropriatesland, a portion of land or a rightin land under this Act, the amount of compensation and the time and manner of payment must be 10 determined either by agreement or by a court in accordance with section 25(3) of the Constitution. Application of Act to other land-reformbeneficiaries 39. This Act, read with the necessary changes, applies to beneficiaries of communal land or land tenure terms rights in of other land-reform laws. 15 Extension of access to courts ~ ~~~ 40. The Minister and a Board, in their capacities as such and on behalf of any community or person, each has the legal capacity to institute or intervene in any legal proceedings arising from, or related to, this Act. Offences 20 41. (1) A person who( a ) hinders, obstructs or unduly influences any other person in the exercise of the powers or the performance of the duties conferred on or vested in such other person in terms of this Act; (b) unlawfully requires any other person to refrain from exercising a right in terms of this Act; or ( c ) in any manner prevents any other person from exercising such a right, is guilty of an offence. (2) Any person who grants or purports to grant to any other person, other than a member of a community, a new order right in communal lmd( a ) in contravention of, or without complying with, a community rule; (bj without the prior consent of the community or its land adrmnistration committee or, in the case of State land, the consent of the Minister, is guilty of an offence. (3) A person who, without good cause( a ) having been subpoenaed to appear before a land rights enquirer, does not attend at the time and place stated in the subpoena; (b) having appeared in response to a subpoena by a land rights enquirer, fails to remain in attendance until excused; ( e ) refuses to take an oath or a h a t i o n as a witness when a land rights enquirer so requires; (d) refuses to answer any question fully and to the best of her or his knowledge and belief; ( e ) fails to produce any book, document or object when required to do so; or ’( does or says anything in relation to a land rights enquirer which if said or done in relation to a court of law, would be contempt of court, is guilty of an offence. 25 30 35 40 45 ~ ~~ 34 No. 26590 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 20 JULY 2004 Act No. 11,2004 COMMUNAL LAND RIGHTS ACT, 2004 Penalties 42. A person convictedof an offence in temns of this Act is liable on conviction( a ) in thecase of an offencereferred to insection41(1)or (2), to a fine or imprisonment for a periodnot exceeding twoyears, or to both a fine and such imprisonment; (b) in the case of an offence referredto i n section 41(3),to the penalty applicable to a similar offence in a magistrate’s court. Delegation of powers 43. The Minister and Director-General m.ay delegate any power, except the power the to expropriate land, a portion of land or a right in land, which has been conferred upon 10 the Minister or the Director-General, respectively, in terms of this Act. Regulations 44. (1) The Minister may make any regulation with regard to any matter which is governed by or incidental to the objects or implementationof this Act. (2) Any regulations made ,111der section must tabled this be in Parliament. 15 Act binds State 45. This Act binds the State. Amendment and repeal of laws 46. (1) The laws mentioned the Schedule are amended or repealed to extent set in the 20 out in the third column of the Schedule. (2) Any law which regulates an old order right and which( a ) is not mentioned in the Schedule; and (b) is not in conflict with this Act, remains in force until repealed by a competent: authority. Short title and commencement 47. This Act called the Communal Land Rights Act, is 2004, and comesinto operation on a date to be determined by the President by proclamation in the Gazette. 5 25 36 GOVERNMENT No. 26590 GAZETIE, COMMUNAL LAND RIGHTSACT, 2004 2004 JULY 20 Act No. 11,2004 Schedule Amendment or repeal of laws (Section 46) Part 1: Laws enacted by Parliament Vo. and year of law k t No. 38 of 1927 lhort title 3lack Administration Act, ,927 Eutent of amendment or repeal Repeal of sections 6 and 7 5 k t No. 47 of 1937 k e d s Registries Act, 1937 1. Amendment of section 3 by the insertion in subsecLion (I) after paragraph (d)bis of the following parayaphs: “(dlter register deeds of communal land rights as contemplated in the Communal Land Rights Act, 2004; ‘d)ter(lA) register the conversion to full ownership of old and new order rights as contemplated in the CommuL?! LdEd Rights Act, 2004: ‘djter(1B) =er~the cancellzfion of old order rights as contemplated in the Communal Land Rights Act, 2004;”. l. Insertion after section 16B of the following section: “Registration of new order rights 16C. New order-rights shall be transferred by means , f a Deed of Communal Land Right as contemplated n the Communal Land Rights Act, 2004.”. TAmendment of section 102a ) by the insertion after the definition of “court” of the following definition: “ ‘Deed of Communal Land Right’ means a deed of communal land right as defined in section 1 of the Communal Land Rights Act, 2004;”; bi by the substitution for the definition of “general plan” of the following definition: “ ‘general plan’ means a plan which represents the relative positions and dimensions of two or more pieces of land and has been signed by a person recognized by law as a land surveyor, and which has been approved, provisionally approved or certified as a general plan by a surveyor-genera1 or other officer empowered under any law so to approve, provisionally approve or certify a general plan, and includes a general plan or copy thereof prepared in a surveyor-general’s office and approved, provisionally approved or certified as aforesaid, or a general plan which has at any time prior to the commencement of this Act, been accepted for registration in a deeds regism or surveyor-general’s office, and includes; communal general plan as contemplated in the Communal Land Rights Act, 2004;”; ‘cJ by the addition to the definition of “immovable property” of the following paragraph: “(e) new order rights as contemplated in the Communal Land Rights Act, 2004;”; and ‘d, bv the substitution for the definition of “oerson” of the following definition: “ ‘person’, for the purpose of [the registration of immovable trust property only] any registration in terms of this Act, includes a trust and, for the purpose of the Communal Land Rights Act, 2004, includes a community;”. I _ _ 10 1s 20 25 30 35 $0 45 50 5s 60 ~ ~~~~ GOVERNMENT 26590 No. 38 GAZETTE, 20 JULY 2004 Act No. 11,2004 COMMUNAL LAND RIGHTS ACT, 2004 $0. and year of law Short title Lipgrading of Land Tenure Rights .4ct, 1991 3xtent of amendment or repeal k t No. 112 of 1991 . Repeal of section 20. !. Substitution for section 25.4 of the following sec- ion: “25A. As from the coming into operation of the Communal Land Rights Act, 2004, this Act shall apply throughout the Republic.”. I . Amendment of Schedule 1 by the insertion of the ‘cdlowing items before item 1, items 1 to 6 becoming tems 3 to 8: “ 1 . Any quitrent title referred to in Proclamation 196 of 1920. 2. Any quitrent title referred to in Proclamation 170 of 1922.”. lct No. 31 of 1996 Interim Protection of InFormal Land Rights Act, 1996 Land Survey Act, 1997 imendment of section 5 by the deletion of subsection 2. ) 4mendment of section 1 by the substitution for the iefinition of “general plan” of the following definiion: ‘‘ ‘general plan’ means a pian which, reprewnting the relative positions and. dimensions of twfi or more pieces of land, has i-en signed by a person recognised under any law then !n time as a land surveyor, or which has been approved or certified as a general plan by a Surveyor-General and includes a general plan or a copy thereof prepared in a Surveyor-General’s office and approved or certified as such or a general plan which has, prior to the commencement of this Act, been lodged for registration in a deeds registry or Surveyor-General’s office in the Republic or any area which became part of the Republic at the commencement of the Constitution, 1993 and, for the purposes of the Communal Land Rights Act, 2004, includes a communal general plan contemplated in that Act;”. 5 10 15 lct No. 8 of 1997 20 25 30 35 40 GOVERNMENT No. 26590 GAZETTE, COMMUNAL RlGHTS LAND ACT, 2004 20 JULY 2004 Act No. 11,2004 Part 2 : Laws of the former KwaZulu io. and year of law ict No. 3 KZ of 1994 1 Short title 1 KwaZulu-Natal Ingonyama Trust Act, 1994 3xtent of amendment or repeal . . Amendment of section 2 a) by the substitution for subsection (2) of the folloang subsection: “(2) TheTrust shall, in a mannernot inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, be administered for the benefit, material welfare and social well-being of the members of the tribes and communities as contemplated in the KwaZulu Amakhosi and Iziphakanyiswa Act, 1990 (Act No. 9 KZ of 1990), referred to in the second column of the Scheduie, establishedin a district referred to in the first column of the Schedule, and the residents of such a district to whom the land referred to in section 3 and the real rights and other rights in such land must, subject to this Act and any other law, be transferred.”. ‘bj by the substitution for subsection (5) of the followsng subsection: “(5) The Ingonyama shall not encumber, pledge, lease, alien,& or ottlerwise dispose of any of the said land or any interest or real right in the land, unless he has t m e d the prior written consent of the [traditional authorityor community authority,] community concerned, and otherwise than in accordance wlth the provisions of any applicable law.”. i d 5 10 15 20 25 i I No.year and of law 30 Part 3: Laws of the former Bophuthatswana I Short title Bophuthatswana Land Control Act, 1979 1 Extent of amendment or repeal Repeal of the whole I 35 Act No. 39 of 1979 Part 4: Laws of the former Venda No. and year of law Act No. 16 of 1986 Proclamation 45 of 1990 Short title Venda Land Control Act, 1986 Venda Land Affairs Proclamation, 1990 Extent of amendment or repeal Repeal of the whole Repeal of sections 1 to 5, 8 to 13, 20 to 43 and so much of sections 6 , 7 and 14 to 19 as has not been assigned to the government of Limpopo province under section 235(8) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1993 (Act No. 200 of 1993). I 40 45 42 GOVERNMENT No. 26590 COMMUNAL LAND RIGHTS ACT, 2004 GAZETTE:, 20 JULY 2004 Act No. 11,2004 Part 5: Laws of the former Ciskei No. and year of law Short title Ciskei Land Regulation Act, 1982 Extent of amendment or repeal liepeal of the whole with effect from the date of registration of a community‘s community Ivies under section 19(1) of “this Act”, but only within the area comprised of that community‘s communal land and with effect from the date on whlch Proclamation No. R. 188 of 1969 is repealed in that area. Act No. 14 of 1982 5 10 Part 6: Laws of the former Qwaqwa No. and year of law Short title Qwaqwa Land Act, 1989 I Extent of amendment or repeal Repeal of the whole with effect from the date of regislratioo of a community’s community rules under section 19(1) of “this Act”, but only within the area comprised of that community’s communal land. Act No. 15 of 1989 15 c Part 7: Laws of the former KwaNdebele - -~ ~~ ---.___.- . No. and scar uf law- Short title I I Extent of amendment or repeal So much as has not been repealed 30 Act No. I I of 1992 KwaNdebele Land Tenure Act, 1992 Part 8: Other laws Short title or description Extent of amendment or repeal Proclamation 26 of 1936 Administrative Area Regulations - Unsurveyed Districts: Transkeian Territories Repeal of the whole with effect from the date of registration of a community’scommunity rules under section 19(1) of “this Act”, but only within the area comprised of that community’s communal land. 25 30