SOUTH AFRICA'S coalition government has produced proposals for land restitution which could reopen land titles dating back to the first white settlers over 300 years ago.
Previous proposals to restore lands to displaced blacks were limited to those who lost lands under acts passed after 1913, when the first overtly racist property laws were enacted in South Africa.
Yesterday however, the African National Congress's Land Minister, Mr Derek Hanekom, announced that his government was proposing to broaden the criteria for restitution or compensation to include those who lost lands through fraud or violence, as well as through racist legislation.
He said that in theory this could lead to claims dating back to the arrival at the Cape of Jan van Riebeeck, leader of the first Dutch settlers.
South Africa was founded on a series of white land grabs and, under such harsh scrutiny, few titles would be completely secure. But despite its commitment to helping dispossessed black farmers, the ANC led government is also keen not to damage agricultural production, still predominantly controlled by whites.
It is believed any early land, claims will be largely symbolic, and will ultimately be made at the minister's discretion.
Of more immediate concern to white land owners will be proposals to allow the government to buy land compulsorily at below market price, if that land was acquired cheaply under apartheid legislation.
Under apartheid laws many white farmers acquired houses and land cheaply, after the government expelled blacks, "coloureds" and Indians from newly designated whites only areas.
Mr Hanekom said yesterday that while compulsory purchase would be used if necessary it was hoped that restitution could proceed on a "willing buyer, willing seller" basis.
Regardless of the number of claims, the process could only be carried out at the pace set by the land market and the amount of money available to the state.