Crown Land disposal in the Cape of Good Hope 1853-1914
The Cape of Good Hope granted 26 million hectares to settlers in the period discussed. The problems of colonising progressively more arid environments resulted in constant reviews of legislation and a measure of experimentation until the land
The central Cape of Good Hope has an arid climate and has been subject to environmental degradation as a result of overgrazing by small stock. Continuing rural-urban migration has resulted in locally severe depopulation and farm abandonment. (AJC).