Property
Swazi Nation Land held in trust by the King alongside title-deed land
Land divides into Swazi Nation Land, held by the King in trust for the nation and allocated through chiefs by khonta, and title-deed land held under Roman-Dutch ownership and registered in the Deeds Registry. Swazi Nation Land cannot be sold or mortgaged, which sharply limits its use as security.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — The Deeds Registry records title-deed land; chiefs allocate Swazi Nation Land; the High Court hears disputes.
Governing law
- Deeds Registry Act 37 of 1968
- Land Speculation Control Act 8 of 1972 — restricts acquisition by non-citizens
- Crown Lands Disposal Act 5 of 1911
In practice
The two-tier structure is the defining feature of Eswatini property law and the primary obstacle to rural credit: roughly 60 per cent of land is Swazi Nation Land, allocated by chiefly grant under khonta, held without registrable title, and therefore outside the mortgage market entirely.