COLONIAL LAND POLICY IN NATAL

ABSTRACT

The settlement of Natal in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries by colonists from other parts of South Africa and from Europe resulted in a conflict of ideas. The country was seen as excellent pastoral land by the Cape Trekkers, who entered from the interior of South Africa, and as good arable land by the British, who entered by sea from Europe. The difference in assessment persisted throughout the colonial period, despite several unsuccessful attempts at agricultural settlement, but growing awareness of the limitations of the environment enabled a partial compromise between the two schools of thought late in the period. The unsatisfactory land laws had a profound effect upon development in the nineteenth century, and some aspects are still visible in the landscape.

KEY WORDS:

• Cape-Dutch
• Colonization
• Frontier
• Land policy
• Natal
• Settlement
• South Africa