Many rural towns in South Africa have commonages. Long ago this was used by town people who did not have land to graze their animals or grow crops.

People had to pay a small fee to the local authority to use the commonage. As this practice fell way, the local authorities started to lease out their commonages, mostly to rich farmers who often paid very little for the land. The Land Acquisition Grant is to help local authorities buy land to create a commonage, or to add to the existing commonage, so that the poorer residents in the town can use it for grazing animals or planting crops.

If there is a need in your community to use a commonage, you must go to your local authority or the provincial Department of Department of Rural Development and Land Reform and discuss this option with them.

In order to qualify for this grant, your local authority must:

• Tell the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform how much they can contribute to buy the land
• Show the department their financial records
• Give a commitment that the land will be for the poorest residents to lease
• Give a list of all the people who will want to use the commonage
• Give a plan from the residents explaining how the land will be used