Is Hilton College, one of South Africa’s most esteemed and exclusive private institutions, at risk of losing its sprawling estate due to land expropriation? Recent media reports have reignited speculation, alleging that the prestigious boys’ boarding school faces a renewed land claim by the Nxamalala clan in KwaZulu-Natal.
The Nxamalala clan, notably including former President Jacob Zuma—now leader of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party—first lodged their claim in 1998 with the KwaZulu-Natal Land Claims Court.
They contend that their eviction, tied to the Native Land Act of 1913, stripped them of the land now occupied by Hilton College. In 2005, however, the KwaZulu-Natal Land Claims Commissioner dismissed the claim, led by Inkosi Sikholwa Zuma, labeling it “frivolous and vexatious” and arguing that it reflected a bid for tribal authority rather than a legitimate case of racial dispossession.
Yet, the narrative shifted when the Land Claims Court in Randburg, in a ruling dated 21 February 2025, overturned the 2005 decision, setting it aside and reviving the Nxamalala clan’s assertion of rightful ownership. This development sparked a flurry of media coverage, with numerous outlets suggesting that Hilton College might soon forfeit its land amid South Africa’s ongoing land expropriation debates.
However, contrary to these headlines, the reality appears far less dire.
In a formal statement to the Hilton College Community, the Hiltonian Society—the non-profit entity governing the school—denounced these reports as “factually incorrect and amounts to nothing more than media sensationalism and irresponsible journalism.” Below is a concise overview of the pertinent land matters, as articulated by the Hiltonian Society.
Alleged Land Claim at Hilton College
The Society clarified that several prominent media agencies had published articles about an alleged land claim targeting Hilton College, all stemming from the Land Claims Court judgment on 21 February 2025 (accessible online). Key points from their analysis include:
· The claimant, Inkosi Sikholwa Alson Zuma, lodged a land claim in 1998 for properties in and around Howick and the Lions River District. Court documents from that period described these as land “in and around Hilton College,” a phrase echoed in the recent judgment. This claim has since navigated multiple legal proceedings, culminating in the 2025 ruling. However, the specific properties cited—Ashely 947, Grootvalley 941, Rietspruit 899, Rietvallei 1043, and Lot 50 No. 2859 in the Lions River District—do not correspond to Hilton College’s estate.
· After a thorough review with its legal counsel, the Hiltonian Society confidently asserts that none of these properties are owned by or affiliated with the Society or its associated entities. They speculate that the reference to Hilton College in legal documents likely served as a convenient geographic marker due to the school’s well-known location.
· More broadly, the Society states it has no knowledge of any historical or impending land claims directly affecting the Hilton College property.
Addressing broader land-related issues, the Hiltonian Society highlighted a resolved labour tenant claim for completeness.
“In South Africa, our law makes provision for redress for citizens deemed to have been labour tenants under the previous dispensation. A labour tenant is a person who was afforded a right of residence on a farm in exchange for his/her labour,” the Society explained.
Years ago, four families residing in Teapots Valley on the Hilton estate pursued a labour tenant claim through the Land Claims Court. The Society maintained that these claimants did not meet the legal definition of labour tenants, and the dispute was amicably settled on 3 September 2019.
Per the settlement, confirmed by Judge Meer, the four families and their descendants opted to relocate to state-provided land within 40 kilometers of Hilton College, with the Society contributing to housing construction costs. Previously, the Society had facilitated the relocation of 84 families from Teapots Valley to Howick West, funding freehold homes through the Endowment Foundation. Regrettably, despite the agreement, the four families later chose to remain in Teapots Valley. The Society continues to uphold their rights under the Extension of Security of Tenure Act, which safeguards rural residents, while reserving its legal options.
Furthermore, the Hiltonian Society acknowledged the charged nature of land ownership in South Africa.
“As we know, land and its ownership in South Africa is a highly emotive topic often linked to issues such as affluence and inequality. This linked with news items such as those which we have witnessed this past fortnight, and which stir emotions and create sensation in the minds of the wider public, are unfortunately a reality and part of the society in which we live today.”
The Society also emphasised its proactive stance over the past two decades in addressing socio-economic challenges, notably through supporting the Teapots Valley community.
This includes relocating most families to brick-and-mortar homes in Howick West—equipped with electricity, clean water, and transport to Hilton College for employees—in collaboration with the Department of Human Settlements and Rural Development.
This initiative earned the Govan Mbeki Award for Best Integrated Residential Development and was a runner-up at the National Govan Mbeki Awards that November. Phase four of this relocation awaits regulatory approval, with the Society committed to providing updates as circumstances evolve.
In light of this, what are your reflections on the matter? While certain media reports initially stoked fears of Hilton College facing expropriation, the Hiltonian Society’s response suggests a narrative inflated by sensationalism rather than grounded in fact.
Share your perspectives in the comments below.
Comments 2
The expropriation of land will kill food security and economy in General because claim the land and not used it for economic purposes
The so called KA D CLAIM is just all about the mk ey the clan wants ftom the COLLEGE AS is the case every where, where profitable frams were handed over to clans and became insolvent within 2 years after Public Works pumped in millions of Rand.