Case Studies on the Acquisition of Urban Land by Municipalities from State Owned Companies and Other Organs of State

A national approach is needed to ensure “more efficient and effective management of the country’s urban areas” to bring about inclusive and integrated cities. This needs to include all of government, and should not just be left to municipalities to deal with on their own. The reconfiguration and transformation of urban areas to achieve these goals will depend to a large extent on effective management of the land within our urban areas. There are often large areas of state owned land ( owned by national, provincial or local government, or a State-owned Entity, SoE) in municipal are as. Problems in acquiring such land have been raised in several cities.

This research provides an overview of the legislative and policy framework informing the acquisition of land from state owned companies and other organs of state by municipalities and/or the HDA, and reflects on the experience of four metros (eThekwini, Buffalo City, Mangaung and Ekurhuleni) in their quest to acquire state land for developmental purposes.