Fertile African lands colonisers stole from indigenous communities

Photo: Screengrab Aljazeera

South Africa

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South Africa remains the most popular African country that faced land disputes that developed into other delicate issues such as racism and apartheid. Aside from being blessed with abundant fertile lands, South Africa’s land also had a number of natural resources in high global demand and value. South African mines were and continue to be part of the world leaders in diamonds, golds and platinum and these made their lands very valuable.

By the 18th century, the British had managed to fully establish themselves in the country after extending from Zimbabwe and taking over much of the fertile lands. The indigenous people did not let go of their lands without a fight, sparking the Boar War. The scramble for land in South Africa led to the 1948 Apartheid Law and the 1951 Bantu Authorities Act of ‘homelands’ which saw black South Africans pushed to remote areas in the country leaving the commercial centres and valuable lands to white people.

To date, South Africa continues to face severe land disputes and is looking for ways to expropriate land back to indigenous groups.