It was a jubilant moment when 33 successful land claimants from the province received title deeds while seven individual families got financial compensation to the combined total of R25 million at Bolivia Estate on Friday.
The official hand over was conducted by the Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane who also handed over a five ton delivery truck worth R726 966 to a pig production farming business. She said due to developments on the land previously occupied by these families, land rights restoration is not possible hence the financial compensation.
“The recipients of the title deeds and financial compensation are communities and individual families who were abruptly uprooted from their productive lands by the apartheid regime. Besides restoration of dignity, the title deeds signifies total empowerment of black people in terms of ownership of land in title and the potential of unlocking economic opportunities,” Nkoana-Mashabane explained.
She further stated that since residents were encouraged to claim their land, 7 301 land claims were made from Limpopo with 5 473 being finalised and 171 applications are outstanding. She however, expressed concern that about 77% of fertile land is still not accessible to 80% of black South Africans and reiterated that this has to be rectified. She added that willing-buyer-willing-seller principle has cost government over R40 billion but the rule did not work.
Nkoana-Mashabane cautioned that chairpersons of communal property associations (CPAs) are not the owners of the land and reiterated that the land belongs to the people. She further stressed that about 17 million of South Africans are not food secure which means their next meal is not guaranteed, adding that with or without the amendment of the Constitution land should be given to the people for them to enter the main value chain.
Nkoana-Mashabane urged families that received financial compensation to avoid fighting over the money but rather use it wisely and encouraged successful land claimants to protect the land because it is their heritage.
Limpopo CPAs chairperson Calvin Leshiba was delighted that the associations finally received title deeds as he reiterated that it will help them to seek partnership and benefit from the land. He further warned that leaders of CPAs should refrain from taking decisions on their own but rather consult with all people involved.
Story & photos: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za
