Geskiedenis, grondstudies en grondeisenavorsing – 'n oop gesprek ; History, land studies and land claims research – an open debate

Abstract

In the history of South Africa, with prospects of a democratic system that would meet all the expectations of the people of the country, the year 1994 also required mind shifts with regard to land reform. As a discipline, History broke its long silence. Past studies on land reform and land claims are visible, but for years, historians have not necessarily contributed to research on the topic. Government, as part of its promise to voters and within the limits of democracy, started investigating the status of land distribution countrywide. Shortly after 1994, processes commenced to provide communities and individuals the opportunity, until the end of 1998, to submit motivations as to why a certain area(s)/region(s) belong to them. This article's open discussion is not intended to cover all the events and processes of the past almost 20 years conscientiously. Rather, the intention is to put in writing what the role of History as a discipline can or should be in ultimate decisions on claims in respect of land. However, extensive research on this is still required. In this paper, then, the use of history within the discipline of History in the managing of land claims in South Africa is the core issue. History, as a discipline that can provide multiple sources of a diverse nature, will be discussed briefly with the unsettled land claim on the farm Deelkraal IQ142 as an example. A summary will direct the reader towards the value of History in land claims research, but it should not necessarily be deemed as the final decision about land claims. Therefore, it appears that perceptions of the past (sometimes interwoven with power and conflict), may have a tendency to overshadow any possibility of truth or reality. This in itself creates facets of power and politics that simply repeat similar previous cycles ; Hierdie oop gesprek oor die hantering en verstaan van grondeise in die grondhervormingsgeskiedenis van Suid-Afrika het nie ten doel om al hierdie gebeure en prosesse van die afgelope byna 20 jaar nougeset neer te pen nie. Teen die kontekstuele agtergrond daarvan word wel besin oor die mate waartoe Geskiedenis as 'n dissipline betekenisvol kan wees of behoort te wees in die uiteindelike besluitneming oor eise ten opsigte van grond. Omvattende navorsing hieroor is egter nog nodig. In hierdie bespreking is die benutting van die geskiedenis binne die dissipline Geskiedenis in die onderneming van grondeisenavorsing die kernsaak. Geskiedenis as 'n bewysmateriaalverskaffer met vele perspektiewe word toegelig deur kortliks na die onafgehandelde grondeis op die plaas Deelkraal IQ142 as 'n voorbeeld te verwys. Opsommenderwys sal ook aangetoon word dat die waarde van Geskiedenis in grondeisenavorsing nie noodwendig in finale besluitnemings oor grondeise geag word nie. Dit wil dus voorkom asof persepsies oor die verlede (soms verweef in mag en konflik), 'n geneigdheid kan hê om enige moontlikheid van waarheid of realiteit te oorskadu. Op sigself dui dit weer op fasette van mag en politiek, wat vorige soortgelyke siklusse bloot herhaal