Working together, land claimants reap reward
THE Amangcolosi in Kranskop, about 120km from Durban, offer a shining example of successful land restitution.
When the 401 claimants acquired thousands of previously white-owned commercial farms worth R140-million 11 years ago as part of their land claim, they had no funding or plan. But they had a will to succeed, a commitment to improve their lives and an inkosi to guide them.
Today, through the Amangcolosi Community Trust they set up in 2005, they own Ithuba Agriculture, a multimillionrand business with interests in farming and education.
Claimant Maria Msomi, 72, said: “I cannot express the way this land claim has changed our lives. Right now I am sleeping in a queen-size bed, something I never dreamt I would have. We used to fight with goats for blackjack plants for food and we would only eat meat when someone’s cow had died. But now we eat meat like sweets.”
Ithuba has an estimated annual turnover of R38-million through supply agreements with Mondi, Gledhow Mill and NCT Forestry Co-operative for sugar cane and timber. With more than 500 permanent workers, the community trust is the biggest employer in the area.
Last week the Amangcolosi had more reason to celebrate when they received title deeds to their ancestral land. They also own a holiday resort, the Tot Hier Toe Caravan Park.
Ithuba director Vusi Mbatha this week attributed their success to roping in people with the necessary business skills.
“When the business started in 2005 we had nothing. We had to lease farm equipment in 2009 and only managed to pay for it when the business started to reap success,” he said.
Since 2010 it has paid out more than R11-million — R27 520 to each claimant. HOME: Vusi Mbatha, Nkosikhona Bhengu and Alfred Xulu at an Amangcolosi project
The trust has built computer labs for four high schools, five classrooms for a primary school, a Lutheran church, dipping tanks for cattle, 10 vegetable gardens and water and electricity projects. It has given bursaries to 12 students.
“What assists us is that we work as a team. Sometimes we differ because of different political parties we support, but we agreed that politics will not interfere with us,” said Mbatha.
Trust chairman Alfred Xulu said: “There was a lot of uncertainty about whether we would succeed. Without a positive attitude and the support from the community, we could not be where we are.”
They also credit their success to the leadership of inkosi Nkosikhona Bhengu, who said: “I take it as a blessing to have such a community. Anything that involves money often leads to conflict, but not with [them].”
In 2013, the Amangcolosi were invited by rural land claimants in the Eastern Cape to share their experience.