On 24 June 2026, fifteen invited key stakeholders from government, industry, civil society, academia, and community leadership gathered in Cape Town for INSPIRE’s first Land Matters Roundtable. Building on the discussions initiated through INSPIRE’s webinar titled Inclusive Value Creation – Unlocking Commercial Projects on Communally Owned Land, the roundtable explored how commercial development, particularly in renewable energy, can create meaningful value on communally owned land.
A central message that emerged from the roundtable is that the greatest barriers are not communal land itself, but the systems and assumptions surrounding it. Participants reflected on how South Africa’s history of dispossession and forced removals continues to shape trust, making meaningful engagement essential to successful development. They also highlighted the need for greater clarity around governance, recognising that legal structures and community realities do not always align.
The discussion identified several practical opportunities to unlock greater value. These included:
- improving access to information on land potential and legal frameworks,
- strengthening institutional understanding of communal tenure,
- and exploring financing models that move beyond conventional title deed requirements.
As participants noted, other sectors have already demonstrated that commercial investment on communal land is possible through innovative financial structures.
Above all, the roundtable reinforced the importance of treating communities as partners rather than beneficiaries. This means investing time in understanding community aspirations, communicating in accessible language, and building trust through genuine collaboration. The discussion closed with a shared view that this conversation should continue, with greater collaboration, broader stakeholder participation and ongoing engagement to help translate insights into practice.
Download the full Land Matters Roundtable Report to explore the key themes, participant reflections and practical insights that emerged from the discussion.
