South Africa and Zambia Tackle Land Tenure Backlogs with National Titling Programs

In South Africa, the human settlements minister reported a title deed backlog of 1,229,164 as of September 1, 2025. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the state acquired about 2.5 million hectares under a proactive land acquisition strategy. Zambia is addressing similar land issues through a national titling program, which has issued over 232,000 offer letters. This program aims for 4 million certificates, addressing a gap where only about 450,000 of 1.2 million properties hold registered titles.

The lack of formal property documentation in both South Africa and Zambia limits the ability of families to borrow and invest. South Africa's strategy involves acquiring land generally leased on short terms, which restricts beneficiaries' ability to borrow and invest. These efforts highlight the economic impact of insecure land tenure across the region.