'Ask Some Whites to Leave': Land Ownership in South Africa

“Land ownership is one of the most fundamental questions we have to answer in transforming our society. It’s the most emotional and seemingly the most dangerous -- it threatens our future says Cosatu’s Western Cape secretary general Tony Ehrenreich. “Hout Bay’s issues are a microcosm of South Africa -- that’s why everybody wants to have their say about what happens here.”

Imizamo Yethu is home to about 18 000. A study by the Southern African Labour, Development and Research Unit (Saldru) found that more than 96% of Imizamo Yethu’s residents live in shacks.

In Hout Bay itself the residents are mostly white and affluent and own some of the country’s most expensive property.

The smallest group of residents, about 8 000 people, are coloureds who live on the slopes of Hangberg, overlooking Chapman’s Peak. In this community only four kids successfully finished their matric exam last year. An estimated 80% of high school kids have used tik. About 40% of all black and coloured people in Hout Bay are unemployed.

Because of the divisive land issue, relations between community groups, ratepayers, political parties and racial groups and individuals have deteriorated so much that Cosatu recently asked the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation to facilitate meetings between them.