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

Native Trust and to make further provision as to the acquisition and
occupation of land by Blacks and “other persons” 423 .
There was mixed reaction to the new trend of the purchase of farms
among Black communities. There were those who were in favour of the
purchases and they strongly supported it and led the syndicates which
bought farms. These were Blacks who were pushed out of their
settlements by unbearable conditions such as overcrowding, overgrazing,
as well as expensive and uncertain lives on land owned by White
companies and individuals. Most of these Blacks were literate and were
Christians and they wanted to buy land where hoped that they would be
“free”.
However, the pieces of legislation mentioned above, did not allow
individual landownership by Blacks, and as a result, Blacks were forced
to club together and form themselves into “tribes” or “tribal entities”
before purchasing land. Most of the Blacks who were pressured to
purchase land, were not only literate and Christian – factors which to a
certain extent widened their knowledge and worldview – but they were
also favoured by the White authorities and the White landowners. The
423 The Natives Land and Trust Act of 1936, Section 1.
253