The MEC of the Department of Agriculture Rural Development Land and Environmental Affairs, Vusi Shongwe, in conjunction with MEC for co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mr Speed Mashilo, presided over the land handover ceremony located in Chief Albert Luthuli, Dr JS Moroka and Thembisile Hani Local Municipalities, totaling about 4905, 1256 and 159 hectares respectively.
The event of the deed of donation signing of the land recently took place in Ermelo.
The land was previously administered by the KaNgwane and KwaNdebele homelands.
The handover process marks a new era of service delivery in which the municipalities will now provide title deeds for ownership to households located in the donated land.
Mr Shongwe said that the matters of land are on top of the agenda in the country and therefore it came at the right time.
He added that the department has taken a decision to release the land professionally and in an organised manner.
“People need to be educated that grabbing and invasion of land is discouraged at all costs,” he added.
Mr Mashilo said the process will assist in formalising townships and subsequently allow the Department of Human Settlements to issue title deeds to these beneficiaries.
He further stated that the municipalities will be able to collect property rates.
