How To Own A Land In South Africa

Land ownership in South Africa

According to a 2017 government audit, 72 percent of the nation’s private farmland is owned by white people, who make up 9 percent of the population. The white Afrikaner interest group AfriForum claims that 24% of South African land is owned by the state and 34.5% is owned by black people.

Below is How To Own A Land In South Africa

The registration of rights in land and other immovable property is regulated by the Deeds Registries Act, 1937, and South Africa boasts one of the world’s most efficient and sophisticated systems of land registration.

Every piece of land is shown on a diagram and ownership recorded in one of the regional Deeds Registries, where documents are available for public viewing. The system does provide owners with security of title (unlike those of some other countries!).

Although South Africa still recognizes an old system of a 99-year leasehold, the main real right in land is that of ownership, similar to the UK system of freehold title, and most land in South Africa is privately held by outright ownership. The separate ownership of buildings or parts of buildings in development is recognized by the Sectional Titles Act, 1986.

South Africa is rich in mineral wealth and the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Act, 2002 separates the rights to minerals in and under land from the ownership of the surface rights to the land, so buying a property in South Africa doesn’t entitle you to set up a gold mine in the garden!

How do I buy land in South Africa?

Buying vacant land in South Africa

Have as much cash upfront as possible. Most major banks and lenders will require the entire or at least a large portion of the property to be paid in cash.

Beware of hidden costs.

Decide the purpose of the property before you buy.

Research the area and land for building purposes.

Is it safe to buy land in South Africa?

It is still safe to invest in property. The President has been clear that there will be no wide-scale expropriation or nationalization, property rights will be protected, and illegal land grabs will not be tolerated.

Is buying land in South Africa a good investment?

Property investment in South Africa is an excellent long-term investment strategy and one of the best ways to start off your property portfolio. Investment properties are purchased with the intention of earning a return through the rental of the property, the future resale of the property, or both.

Is it a good idea to buy property now in South Africa?

Property Investment

“With interest rates so low, it is certainly a good time to be buying an investment property,” said Stevens, while warning that investors should take into account that rental inflation is also at an all-time low, sitting at around 1.5% nationally according to PayProp.

How can I get free land in South Africa?

Apply In-Person:

Visit the office of the Rural Development and Land Reform Department and obtain the application form to apply for a grant in terms of the Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development Programme, from the respective department.

Complete the application with required and relevant information.