Economic interests, political influence and racial prejudices were main contributors to the introduction of the Native's Lands Act.
The late 19th and early 20th centuries observed a junction of colonial imperialism, economic transformation and a rise in racially divisive ideals.
[citation needed] With the surplus of natural resources, including gold and diamonds, there was a rush to assert dominance in all regions of Africa.
South Africa was introduced to a surplus of mainly British and Dutch immigrants who tried to implement their own ideologies upon the indigenous people of this land.
Tensions began to grow between the colonisers and the indigenous groups throughout the 19th century which ultimately lead to the introduction of the Native Land's Act in 1913.
[citation needed] The Native Land Act is remembered in South African history as one step towards the institutional discrimination and injustice of the Apartheid era and for underlying geographic segregation of races that still remains.
[6] This land was in "native reserve" areas, which meant it was under "communal" tenure vested in African chiefs: it could not be bought, sold or used as surety.
The Act strengthened the chiefs, who were part of the state administration, but it forced many blacks in the "white" areas into wage labour.
Additionally, the legislation safeguarded existing agreements regarding land leased by both parties, particularly in designated "native reserve" areas.
The full implementation of these restrictions was not immediate, but when enforced, it compelled numerous black individuals living in "white" areas into wage labour.
This mutually beneficial system drastically changed after the implementation of the Act, as sharecropping and renting of white-owned land by indigenous people were banned.
Consequently, this prohibition created severe challenges for the indigenous population, rendering them unable to work on the land they had previously cultivated.
[10] Compounded by the forced relocation into poorly planned homelands and townships allocated strictly for indigenous groups, the Act initiated a cycle of lasting poverty.
The government's relocation efforts, coupled with the inability for the indigenous to find work and provide for themselves, led to a rapid increase in socio-economic issues within these communities.
Oftentimes, indigenous leaders would accept these annexations and purchases because they realized they were militarily outnumbered and warfare would not be beneficial to either party.
Defines the right of the commission or its representatives to enter any land, obtain any document needed, without fee or charge in order to carry out its inquires.
Defines the fines or imprisonment for a person who attempted to purchase, sale, hire or lease land, or any agreement or transaction which is in contravention of the Act.
Prior to the act, the indigenous people of South Africa had owned majority of the farmland which was annexed, bought or handed over to the white colonists.
The main policy being only white people could vote or hold government positions and the lack of a strong education system for the indigenous.
The government claimed that the aim of the Natives Land Act was to control and redistribute farmland in South Africa in hope to remove poverty and benefit all.
They were also required to carry around an internal passport which would be checked by law enforcement further restricting their rights and ability to move around within South Africa.
As president of what would become the African National Congress, he supported whites like William Cullen Wilcox, who had created the Zululand Industrial Improvement Company.
"[14] Sol Plaatje traveled to Britain with the SANNC (later the African National Congress) to protest against the Natives Land Act but to no avail.
This act planned to amend the laws and restrictions placed on indigenous people and their ability to purchase, rent or acquire land.
[citation needed] In 2013, the South African Government held a centenary ceremony to remember the Natives Land act of 1913.
Through this reflection, citizens of South Africa were able to acknowledge the struggles still experienced due to the act and hopefully help generate further reform.