South African Land reform: North West community give land to conservation

The Barokologadi community were given their land back to them after fighting for it for almost 100 years, but decided to hand over almost half of it to back to animal conservation.

In March this year in South Africa’s North West province, the Barokologadi community handed-over 10,000ha of land to Madikwe Game Reserve to give back to animal conservation.

Barokologadi ba Ga Maotwe are a Tswana tribe who live in the North-West province of South Africa. They originally split from the ‘Bapedi’ Community and sought refuge among Bakgatla Ba Kgafela.

At first, the tribe took refuge at Lengwana Village and were then welcomed at Mankgopi near Ramotswa in Botswana.

After many years, the tribe eventually settled at Melorane which is near the Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa.

During Apartheid, most of the land which the tribe had been living on was taken away by the government under the promulgation of the Native Land Act (Act No 27 of 1913), of which a large number of black people in South Africa were dispossessed of their rights to land.

94 years later, in 2007 they were given back 26 166 hectares of that land.

Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs Ms Lulama Xingwana stated at the time “Let me acknowledge upfront that no amount of compensation can erase the kind of pain caused by forced removals; however, as we strive to become a better people, I can only urge you to embrace the restitution programme as a form of reconciliation.”

“Moreover, I should indicate that never again will our people be ravaged by the draconian laws which ripped them off of their heritage and dignity.”

“This is the new South Africa, which belongs to all who live in it.”
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And 10 years after that day… the Barokologadi community decided to give the land back to all those animals that live in it too.

The community made the decision to hand over 10,000ha of land to Madikwe Game Reserve to expand and create more space for Madikwe’s thriving elephant herds, protected rhinos and assortment of beautiful African wild animals.

The new land will not only give the wild animals more space but will also create jobs for the people within the community.

The Barokologadi people believe in conservation and understand that the tourist industry in Madikwe will help their community survive for many more years to come.