It is true that people who are lodging claims now will wait until the 2019 deadline for all applications to be processed before government could start compensating them.
Currently the department is only receiving and electronically lodging claims until June 30, 2019.
As confirmed by the office of the Regional Land Claims Commissioner Gauteng Province, Lerato Sehlapelo said: “Yes, the Restitution of Land Rights Act No 22 of 1994 as amended (RLRA) is specific on Section 6 (g):
‘ensure that priority is given to claims lodged not later than 31 December 1998 and which were not finalised at the date of the commencement of the Restitution of Land Rights Amendment Act. 2014’.
Sehlapelo said currently, the department is in the first phase which was the lodgement of claims until June 30, 2015.