“The transition to local democratic institutions in the former bantustans of South Africa will not in itself fulfil the
constitutional imperative for the promotion of gender equality, specifically in relation to women’s access to land. In order for
the state to balance its competing constitutional obligations, it must undertake a programme of community education,
consciousness-raising, and support for women’s organisation at the grassroots level.
This paper provides an overview of land tenure in the former bantustans, focusing on the access of rural women to this land.
It examines the potential conflict between the constitutional recognition and protection of gender rights on the one hand
and the recognition of customary law/ traditional leadership on the other, especially the adverse impact of customary law and traditional leadership on the access of rural women to land. It then examines state initiatives towards implementing local
democratic institutions in these areas, and considers whether these initiatives are sufficient to fulfil the state’s obligation to promote gender equality. The paper concludes that state support for community
activism and community education can serve to balance the constitutional imperatives for gender equality and respect for
traditional leaders and customary law. Such an approach would allow the community to be active participants in, and the
‘drivers’ of their own development.”
