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Online participation: International Interdisciplinary Security of Land Tenure Conference

03 May 2024 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo Supplied

The Law Faculty is excited to host the International Interdisciplinary Security of Land Tenure (IISLT) Conference and extends an invitation for broad online institutional engagement in the event. Participants are encouraged to register early to secure their virtual presence and bookmark the link, which grants access throughout the conference days from 6 to 8 May 2024.

Conference Link

See the attached final conference programme.

Conference Programme

The University of the Free State (UFS), in collaboration with esteemed research partners, will host the IISLT Conference scheduled for 6-8 May 2024 on the Bloemfontein Campus, Equitas Building. The conference aims to address the pervasive issue of insecure land rights plaguing rural communities in South Africa, despite constitutional safeguards and landmark legal decisions.

Transforming the rural land economy

Under the theme Transforming the rural land economy: the creation of secure land rights for the enhancement of rural livelihoods and sustainable development, the conference seeks to explore solutions to the complex challenges surrounding land tenure security.

Dr Anthea-Lee September-Van Huffel, Lecturer in the UFS Department of Private Law and a member of the IISLT Planning Committee, emphasised the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to address land tenure security issues. She stated, "Security of land tenure requires an interdisciplinary approach that is conscious of the intersectionalities between property, environmental law and conservation, customary law and succession, gender and traditional practices, natural resources and socio-economic rights, development, agriculture and land reform, poverty, politics and governance. It is time for innovative holistic rights-based solutions."

The conference proudly collaborates with international and national research partners such as Anglia Ruskin University in London, England; Imo State University in Owerri, Nigeria, the National University of Lesotho's United Nations Development Programme Human Rights Chair, Lesotho; the Law Faculty of the University of Ilorin, Nigeria; the University of Stellenbosch, Department of Private Law, and the Free State Centre for Human Rights. Other closely associated research collaborators are Public Affairs Research Institute and the UFS Centre for Development Studies.

The International Interdisciplinary Security of Land Tenure Conference presents a unique platform for stakeholders to engage in critical discussions, share insights, and propose innovative solutions towards securing land rights for rural communities and fostering sustainable development. Join us for this pivotal event aimed at transforming the rural land economy for the betterment of society. The conference is strongly aligned with Vision 130 and the Sustainable Development Goals (8) Economic growth, (10) Reduced inequalities, (11) Sustainable communities, and (15) Life on land.

Contact information:

For general enquiries, contact Riekie Viljoen via email at viljoenr@ufs.ac.za.

News Archive

Protest actions on the Main Campus

2008-03-12

Staff and students are kindly requested to take note of the following protest actions that will take place on the Main Campus.

As a result of a dispute over the status of roads on campus, permission was granted by the municipality and the court, in the presence of the university lawyer for the three actions. Strict conditions have been set for these protest actions.

a.) On Wednesday, 12 March 2008, Satawu and Nehawu will picket in front of the Main Building from 09:00 to 12:00. Three hundred persons will possibly attend this event. Marchers are not allowed within 10 meters from the Main Building and there will be 45 marshals present. This is not a march and no memorandum will be handed over. There may be no speeches.

b.) On Thursday, 13 March Nehawu will again picket in front of the Main Building from 13:00 to 14:00. This event must be peaceful. Only 125 Nehawu members may participate and protesters may not break away from the big group. They may not come within 10 meters of the Main Building. Twenty five of the protesters will be marshals. This is not a march and no memorandum will be handed over. No speeches may be made.

c.) On Friday, 14 March a march of Cosatu and Nehawu will take place. This march will probably be joined by a big number of people.

The march will continue through the Nelson Mandela Gate and will enter the campus grounds, but will be limited to the incoming lane of Chancellors Avenue from the Main Gate to the crossing with Alumni Avenue (in front of the Odeion). Speeches will be made and a memorandum will be handed over.

The march will reach the campus at 10:00 and from then the Nelson Mandela Gate will be closed for all traffic. The march must be finished by 14:00. The marchers will return to the city centre and could cause a traffic problem in Nelson Mandela Avenue.

The South African Police Service and the UFS’s Protection Service will monitor all these actions. Staff are kindly requested to use alternative gates to the Nelson Mandela entrance on Friday. Academic activities continue as normal.

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