LAND REFORM: lack of government support at the root of community's struggles

The Mswati Communal Property Association (CPA) in Mpumalanga was one of the earliest beneficiaries of the new South African government’s land reform programme. More than 20 years later, the community is still struggling to get the crucial support from the state that would enable them to grow their farming businesses, says CPA committee member Maria Magagula. She and her daughter, Sanet, spoke to Siyanda Sishuba.

- Siyanda Sishuba

FAST FACTS

• More women and youth need to get involved in farming and communal property associations.

• More government support is needed for services and infrastructure.

• The Mswati CPA produces spinach, beans, cabbage, maize, paprika and tobacco.

Maria Magagula was one of the early beneficiaries of government’s land-reform initiatives. She is the secretary of the Mswati Communal Property Association (CPA), which was registered in 1998 in Mpumalanga.

The CPA consists of 130 families who elected to use the grants they received via the Settlement and Land Acquisition Grant, a land reform programme since abandoned and replaced by a succession of new programmes, to collectively buy a 1 418ha farm about 30km from eManzana (Badplaas).

Most households in the CPA previously took part in small-scale farming within irrigation schemes established under KaNgwane, a former homeland.

STRIVING FOR GENDER BALANCE

Maria, who has served on the leadership of the CPA for 11 years, is the only woman on a nine-member managing committee. She is outspoken about the challenges that women face within land governance structures such as CPAs.

“Our CPA committee initially had four women and four men, but unfortunately three women have since passed away, and the CPA is seeking new members, especially young women, to fill these gaps,” she says.

She adds that there is a need for gender balance within the CPAs for women’s voices to be heard and their concerns to be amplified.