Black Belonging, White Belonging: Primitive Accumulation in South Africa's Private Nature Reserves

Evictions have been shown to be a mechanism of primitive accumulation in nature conservation. This paper adds an historical analysis the discussion on conservation by exploring seemingly innocuous White belonging land South Africa's private reserves. Contemporary articulations are replete with stories and images male “pioneers” from colonial era who, upon arrival “empty lands”, were able create economies out nothing. Such representations history reserve websites other promotional material invisibilise Black legitimise By illuminating inconsistencies empty lands narrative legacies three championed pioneers 19th century, this argues that is accumulation, while continues expressed various ways contemporary Africa.