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

In addition to the formation of the land purchasing Blacks into “tribes” and
“tribal entities”, the other two conditions regarding the lands they were
purchasing were that they should renounce claims over mineral rights,
and that they should undertake not to evict the non-buyers. In the
certificate of approving the purchase of farms, the Minister of Native
Affairs would clearly state that the mineral rights on each farm would be
reserved for the previous White owners. This meant that the Blacks only
purchased the topsoil while the Whites retained the rights to claim the
minerals that might be discovered in those farms. The White authorities
were cautious and did not want the purchasers to push the non-buyers
out immediately. This attitude of the White authorities later caused
confusions and divisions among communities as the purchasers felt that
the non-buyers unfairly used land which they did not pay for, while the
White authorities did not openly support their desire to eject the non-
purchasers.
The Minister of Native Affairs’ certificate of approval for the purchase –
with conditions and requirements clearly spelt out – would be dispatched
from Pretoria via regional offices down to the applicants – the “tribe”. The
“tribe” would then hold meetings – usually in the presence of the local
White Native Commissioners or their representatives – in order to come
up with tribal resolutions regarding their purchase. By means of tribal
resolutions, the purchasers – now formed into “tribes” – would be
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