With Women’s Month in focus, securing land rights for women still a critical issue in SA

JOHANNESBURG - As South Africans commemorate Women’s Month, securing land rights for women still remains a critical issue.

While progress has been made in overcoming historical injustices, some significant work remains in ensuring women have equal access to land and can fully benefit from land ownership.

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Social justice activist, Ilanushca van Neel, has been at the forefront of fighting for women’s right to land.

Addressing land rights for women has been a critical and sensitive issue globally, and for South Africa, the issue has far-reaching implications for gender equality, economic development, and environmental sustainability.

Van Neel, who represents the Women African Alliance in Northern Cape, said land was the single most important thing for people in the region, especially women.

She said women’s rights are not recognised when it comes to giving them the chance to be part of the management and ownership of land. 

"Traditionally, women were not allowed to own land. Although they farmed with their husbands and fathers on the same land, they were not allowed to own land. That has changed radically but still women's rights are not recognised when it comes to giving them the right to be part of the ownership and management of land."

Van Neel, whose organisation’s main mission is to help women secure access to resources, said government intervention was needed. 

"If government recognises that communities are able to own and manage their lands, it would definitely help my organisation a great deal because then we would shift some of the pushback in terms of giving recognition to people’s rights."

Despite the legal framework promoting women owning land, cases of infringement on these rights continue in the Northern Cape.