SOUTH Africa’s Land Rights Management Unit (LRMU), a critical division of Legal Aid SA, is grappling with severe challenges as it strives to deliver justice to some of the country’s most marginalised citizens: farm dwellers, labour tenants, and land reform beneficiaries.
Despite its mandate to provide legal representation to these vulnerable groups, the unit is hamstrung by chronic underfunding, systemic inefficiencies, and delays in resolving cases. These issues have sparked intense scrutiny and raised urgent questions about the government’s commitment to land reform and rural justice.
Established in January 2022, the LRMU was tasked with taking over legal representation for farm occupiers, labour tenants, and land claimants from the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development (DALRRD).
However, since its inception, the unit has faced significant operational hurdles, leaving…
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Sunday Independent (Digital) - 1 Issue, 2025-03-16