Land Claims Court of South Africa

The Land Court was established in 1996. The Land Claims Court specialises in dealing with disputes that arise out of laws that underpin South Africa's land reform initiative. These include the Restitution of Land Rights Act, 1994, the Land Reform (Labour Tenants) Act, 1996 and the Extension of Security of Tenure Act, 1997.

The Land Court has the same status as any High Court. Any appeal against a decision of the Land Court lies with the Supreme Court of Appeal, and if appropriate, to the Constitutional Court. The Land Court can hold hearings in any part of the country if it thinks this will make it more accessible and it can conduct its proceedings in an informal way if this is appropriate, although its main seat is in Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa.

The court also deals with the Extension of Security Tenure Act* and the Labour Tenants Act*. These two acts were enacted by parliament to protect farm dwellers/workers from ill treatment and illegal evictions. The Land Court was conferred with the jurisdiction thereof. However the various magistrate courts around the country also have jurisdiction in terms of the Extension of Security Tenure Act although their orders pertaining evictions are subject to automatic reviews by this court. Primarily, the court has to ensure that the rights of farm workers/dwellers are protected in that all evictions are done within the framework of the aforementioned legislation.

* Restitution of Land Rights Act, 1994 (Act 22 of 1994)
* Land Reform (Labour Tenants) Act, 1996 (Act 3 of 1996)
* Extension of Security of Tenure Act, 1997 (Act 62 of 1997)