Lungelo Mncwabe and Nokhetho Mhlanga have writte this op-ed that argues that farm workers and dwellers in South Africa continue to face tenure insecurity and unlawful evictions despite the protections of the Extension of Security of Tenure Act (ESTA). Using the case of Yolanda Klaas, a third-generation farmworker evicted after asserting her labour rights, the piece illustrates how housing tied to employment leaves families vulnerable.
It considers recent amendments to ESTA, effective April 2024 and how they could democratise land governance and restore dignity to farm workers, offering a potential model for participatory land reform.
>> Read the op-ed here.