Ramaphosa blames 1913 Land Act for generations of suffering

President Cyril Ramaphosa said the 1913 Land Act is to blame for the generational suffering of people dispossessed of their land.

Ramaphosa handed over land title deeds amounting to 18 000 hectares to communities in uMzimkhulu, KwaZulu-Natal.

Two thousand beneficiaries were stripped of their land and livestock during apartheid.

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Ramaphosa said had this not happened, affected families would be well better off on Saturday.

"The dispossession of people's land which began before 1913 was the original sin that has caused so much suffering for generations in our country," said Ramaphosa.

It's been over three decades since South Africa obtained democracy, defeating the oppressive apartheid system which left many, especially in parts of KwaZulu-Natal, landless.

For the Lawrence family, St Paul, Ngujini and Ndzimankulu communities, it's taken nearly five decades to have their land ownership restored.

And while they are excited that what belongs to them has been returned, they are concerned they do not have the means to work the land for economic growth.

Addressing the previous claimants, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the Land Act, which enabled forceful evictions, is a contributing factor to poverty.

"When we talk about poverty, when we have to talk about inequality, we have to go back to that original sin that was committed during the colonial period. They were the ones who ensured that the majority of our people are poor and they don't have land; they are the people who brought about inequality," said Ramaphosa.

Ramaphosa added that the government is not taking the issue of dispossessed land lightly and has vowed the programme to restore land ownership to other communities is underway.