Spirits of the Land
Mathonga Elizwe
In 1996, Nelson Mandela introduced land reform laws, offering land tenants the chance to reclaim land lost through colonialism and apartheid. Nearly 10,000 applications failed, with many vanishing without a trace. Spirits of the Land explores the enduring legacy of colonialism and land dispossession in South Africa, tracing three unresolved land claim disputes in Hilton and Koubad (KwaZulu-Natal), and Wakkerstroom (Mpumalanga). The film documents the enduring challenges faced by black land tenants, often facing harassment, threats and violence on white-owned farms. With South Africa marking 31 years of democracy, the film offers a critical reflection on justice, restitution and dignity, as generations of dispossession have fractured agricultural practices, restricted livestock management, and hindered traditional burial customs. Spirits of the Land navigates the deep-rooted ties between poverty, inequality, and land, acting as a powerful reflection on memory, resistance, and the ongoing struggle for freedom in a democratic society.
Film Stills
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