Widows, land, property and inheritance rights : an analysis of affirmative action proposals in Botswana's 2015 Land Policy, with a legal comparative dimension
| dc.contributor.advisor | Pienaar, Juanita M. | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.author | Raseroka, Refilwe Seodi | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.other | Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Law. Dept. of Private Law. | en_ZA |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2021-03-06T12:31:51Z | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2021-04-22T10:12:57Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2021-12-31T03:00:08Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2021-03 | |
| dc.description | Thesis (LLD)--Stellenbosch University, 2021. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Denying women, irrespective of their marital status, the right to access and/or inherit land and property through patriarchal customs that support eviction and inheritance grabbing is inimical to the promotion of gender equality, human dignity and Botho/Ubuntu. The denial of property and inheritance rights of widows through amongst other, property grabbing, has been identified as a major problem in Botswana’s 2015 Land Policy, to be resolved by way of affirmative action. In this light this study, the first of its kind in Botswana, undertakes a holistic review and comparative examination of the affirmative action proposals contained in the 2015 Land Policy, with South Africa’s land reform experience as a backdrop. In doing so, the study exposes a complex layering of customary law and patriarchal practices, legislative gaps and constitutional provisions that result in privileging customary law against complaints of discrimination. Combined, the above have major implications for marriage and widowhood, succession and inheritance rights, gender equality, human dignity and the application of Botho/Ubuntu values. Where women are concerned, land, property rights and access to housing, are inevitably negatively affected. Given that the affirmative action proposals apply to widows only, and not to women generally, the constitutionality of said affirmative action proposals is thus further questionable. In light of the complexity involved, the study suggests a spectrum of recommendations, including better or optimal use of existing remedies, as well as urgent policy implementation and the amendment of existing and the promulgation of new legislation on intestate succession, gender equality and human dignity. The amendment of critical constitutional provisions, as well as a general constitutional review are also suggested. The study underlines that more than affirmative action is needed to promote and protect women’s land and property rights generally. Critically, the right to human dignity is underpinned by Botho/Ubuntu values expressed in the adage ‘umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu’ that is, ‘I am because you are' – a value that applies equally to men and women. On this basis human dignity and equality, irrespective of gender or social class, should be actively promoted and all obstacles preventing the equal enjoyment of land and property have to be identified and addressed accordingly. It is in this context that the study has an important role to play. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Om vroue - ongeag hul huwelikstatus - te verhinder van toegang tot grond en ander eiendom, insluitende om grond en eiendom te erf deur onder andere patriargale gebruike wat uitsetting en erfporsievergryping bevorder, is in beginsel teenstrydig met die bevordering van geslagsgelykheid, menswaardigheid en Botho/Ubuntu. Hierdie verhinderingsgebruike is juis in die 2015-Botswana Grondbeleid as besonder nadelig vir vroue identifiseer, wat spesifiek deur regstellende aksie-voorstelle aangespreek moet word. In die lig van bogenoemde onderneem hierdie studie, die eerste van sy soort in Botswana, ‘n holistiese en regsvergelykende ondersoek na die regstellende aksie- voorstele in die 2015-Grondbeleid, met die Suid-Afrikaanse grondhervormingsprogram as agtergrond. Die ondersoek bring na vore ‘n komplekse ineenskakeling van stelsels van inheemsregtelike en patriargale gebruike, tekortkominge in wetgewing en grondwetlike bepalings wat inheemse reg priviligeer en sodoende teen besware van diskriminasie beskerm. Gesamentlik het al bogenoemde belangrike implikasies vir huwelike en weduweeskap, erfopvolging, geslagsgelykheid, menswaardigheid en die toepassing van Botho/Ubuntu-waardes. Wat vroue betref, het dit ‘n uiters negatiewe uitwerking op hul eiendomsreg (insluitende van grond) en toegang tot behuising. Aangesien die voorgestelde regstellende aksie-bepalings slegs van toepassing is op weduwees en nie vroue in die algemeen nie, is die grondwetlikheid van hierdie bepalings verder onder verdenking. Gegewe die kompleksiteit van die kwessie, stel die studie ‘n spektrum van aanbevelings voor, insluitende die beter of optimale benutting van bestaande remedies, die dringende implementering van relevante beleide, die wysiging van bestaande wetgewing sowel as die promulgering van nuwe wetgewing om veral intestate erfopvolging, geslagsgelykheid en menswaardigheid aan te spreek. Dit is verder ook van kardinale belang dat sekere sleutelbepalings in die Grondwet gewysig moet word en dat daar in die algemeen ‘n grondwetlike hersieningsproses geloods word. Die studie benadruk dat meer as regstellende aksie-bepalings nodig is om vroue se grond- en eiendomsregte te beskerm en te bevorder. Menswaardigheid is van kritieke belang, en is beliggaam in die frase ‘umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu’, naamlik: ‘ek is omdat jy is’ – ‘n lewenswaarde wat ewesydig vir beide mans en vroue geld. Op hierdie basis moet menswaardigheid en gelykheid, ongeag geslag of sosiale stand, aktief bevorder word en moet probleme wat in die weg staan van gelyke grond- en eiendomsregte dienooreenkomstig aangespreek word. Dit is in hierdie konteks dat die studie ‘n belangrike rol kan speel. | af_ZA |
| dc.description.version | Doctoral | en_ZA |
| dc.embargo.terms | 2021-12-31 | |
| dc.format.extent | vii, 387 pages | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/110299 | |
| dc.language.iso | en_ZA | en_ZA |
| dc.publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University | en_ZA |
| dc.rights.holder | Stellenbosch University | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Land use, Rural -- Government policy -- Botswana | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Women -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- Botswana | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Inheritance and succession -- Botswana | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Inheritance and succession -- Women | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Gender equality -- Botswana | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Women -- Botswana -- Economic conditions | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Women -- Botswana -- Social conditions | en_ZA |
| dc.title | Widows, land, property and inheritance rights : an analysis of affirmative action proposals in Botswana's 2015 Land Policy, with a legal comparative dimension | en_ZA |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_ZA |