XITSONGA LAND SYSTEM: On land Allocation

This series documents our indigenous laws on land access, settlement, and inheritance.

ARTICLE 4 OF 10:

LAND ALLOCATION PROCEDURE

1. When a person seeks settlement, the Headman performs the allocation procedures.
2. This involves:
   • accompanying the settler to uncultivated land,
   • jointly defining boundaries,
   • using natural landmarks such as trees, wells, anthills, lakes, or rocks.
3. Once boundaries are agreed:
   • the land is assigned,
   • the settler clears and cultivates it.
4. From that moment:
   • the fields,
   • the crops,
   • and the trees on the land become the exclusive property of the settler.

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