Moddervlei land claimants wait 13 years for a final decision

PEOPLE living in the Elim area are extremely dissatisfied with the delay of the Limpopo Land Commissioner in finalising their land claim – Moddervlei 44 LT – that they lodged 13 years ago.

Leader of the group, Mack Nkuna said the Moddervlei farm was now land that belonged to the State and had to be handed over to them as the claimants with immediate effect. He further said they had formed a communal property association, and the farmer had agreed to be a strategic partner in 2004.

“Inspection and verification were done. After verification the farmer changed his mind and declined to be a strategic partner. He opened criminal cases against the claimants. Some high-ranking officials in the Limpopo government were supporting the farmer’s delay tactics and they seem to promote corruption,” he alleged.

He said the farmer owed the communal property association R200 000 per annum from 2003 to date for leasing the land.

“Land affairs minister Gugile Nkwinti should intervene and investigate corruption by the provincial government officials. We will soon seek the intervention of public protector Adv Thuli Madonsela,” Nkuna said.

Rural development and land reform spokesperson Nicholas Magada said Limpopo Land Commissioner Tele Maphoto had had a meeting with the claimants’ representatives a month ago to provide them with an update on the claim. Magada further said the claim was stopped from being finalised by a man known as Mudau who challenged the validity of the claim in court.

“The claim is still in court and the legal representatives of both parties must expedite the matter so that it can be heard. The Commission is ready to finalise the claim once the court has pronounced on the court case,” Magada said.