Chapter 11
Dealing with land claims and other land reform disputes – the Land Claims Court
The Land Claims Court (LCC) specializes in dealing with disputes that arise out of laws that underpin South Africa’s land reform programme. These are the Restitution of Land Rights Act, the Land Reform (Labour Tenants) Act, the Extension of Security of Tenure Act (ESTA) and the Extension of Security of Tenure Amendment Act. The LCC has the same status as the High Courts. Any appeal against a decision of the LCC lies with the Supreme Court of Appeal, and if appropriate, to the Constitutional Court. The LCC can hold hearings in any part of the country if it thinks this will make it more accessible and it can conduct its proceedings in an informal way if this is appropriate. (See Problem 4: Protecting labour tenants against losing land)