Small businesses across the Namakwa District are poised for growth following the official handover of over 610,000 hectares of land to seven legal entities, including several Communal Property Associations (CPAs).
The move, part of the national land restitution and tenure reform programme, signals a new chapter of economic inclusion and local enterprise development.
While the handover ceremony held in the Northern Cape was celebratory in nature, the implications stretch far beyond the event. For many SMMEs operating within the CPAs, the receipt of title deeds unlocks long-awaited opportunities for infrastructure development, investment, and community-led job creation.
John Mouton, a livestock farmer who runs John’s Farming Pty Ltd, and a founding member of the Pella CPA, expressed deep satisfaction at finally gaining formal ownership of the land he has worked on for over a decade.
“Now that we have the title deeds in our hands, we can apply for funding, build proper facilities, and increase our herd,” Mouton said.
“We have always had the skills; what we lacked was security of tenure. This land gives us power to grow as a business, not just survive,” Mouton said.
Elaine Kiewiets, owner of a small rooibos processing operation, said the land transfer will allow her to expand production and employ more women in the area.
“This land is not just hectares, it’s heritage,” she told Vutivi Business. “We can now build a permanent factory, apply for export licenses, and finally compete in the formal market.”
Another entrepreneur, Thabiso Lekgetho from the Vioolsdrift CPA, who runs a small-scale agri-tourism venture (Balimi bago Tshepega Pty, Ltd), shared similar excitement.
“We are planning eco-lodges, hiking trails, and farm experiences for tourists,” he said. “The land title helps us raise capital, attract partners, and develop responsibly. We want to create jobs and preserve the environment.”
Northern Cape MEC for Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Land Reform and Rural Development, Mase Manopole, said monitoring and evaluation systems will be put in place for every project.
“Our role is to ensure that land benefits communities, not a few individuals,” she said.
Manopole added that the department is developing a new support framework, including business training for CPA members, grant facilitation, and fast-tracking environmental and land-use approvals for SMME projects.
The land restitution initiative in Namakwa follows a similar handover in Alexandra Bay to the Richtersveld community last week, reinforcing the government’s drive to correct historical injustices through practical economic redress.
excel@vutivibusiness.co.za
