Microsoft Word - PhD Thesis Final.pdf - University of Limpopo ...

As a result of Black issues such as land, which faced the authorities as
challenges, in September 1903, Lord Alfred Milner, the British High
Commissioner in South Africa, appointed the inter-colonial commission –
the South African Native Affairs Commission (SANAC) - in order to look
into all matters concerning Blacks 390 . The SANAC was headed by Sir
Godfrey Lagden, hence it is sometimes referred to as the Lagden
Commission 391 . Land tenure by Blacks was one of the major terms of
reference of this commission. In their submissions, the commissioners
suggested that individual land tenure system be introduced for Blacks,
while Blacks still practised their communal system in which everybody in
the community shared grazing, water and cultivation of land. The
commissioners further recommended that Blacks holding land individually
should be assured permanent occupation subject to forfeiture for
rebellion, treason and other offences, or failure to pay rent; squatting by
Blacks should be restricted; certain restriction be made on purchase of
land by Blacks; and that land belonging to Blacks should be vested in
respective government trust 392 .
390 Ibid, p. 1.
391 Report by the South African Native Affairs Commission, p. 1.
392 Ibid, p. 13.
223