Each of the 354 households in Wayeni received R118 692 while the Dzumeri ‘s 351 households received R110 947 each.

The Wayeni Community comprising mostly of Malele and Mahlangu families were forcibly removed from their land and homes in 1966 to make way for the establishment of homelands and self-governing states.

The land which they occupied was to be incorporated into the Venda Homeland.

These claimants were Tsonga speaking and were therefore removed.

They were moved to various areas such as Holofani, Njhakanjhaka, Mashamba villages and the majority of them joined other Tsonga at Wayeni village situated in the Vhembe District of the province.

Meanwhile, the dispossession of Dzumeri community’s land took place between 1967 and 1968 on the basis that Dzumeri Community was classified as Tsonga-speaking people, and the land was earmarked for occupation by the Sotho-speaking.

The settlement for Dzumeri Community comprises of financial compensation amounting to R38,9 million shared by 351 households and R10,3 million to be used for development purposes. Most of the beneficiaries said they will use the money to improve their standard of living and pay for their children’s tertiary education.

According to the Office of the Regional Land Claims Commissioner, the settlement of these claims, and the hand-over of financial compensation, is part of the processing and finalisation of claims that were lodged with the Commission by December 31, 1998.

Also read:

R3.4 million compensation for lost rights in land

Bakalaka’s reformed Phlaborwa land claim

Families compensated for dispossession of land in KNP