The door is open again to lodge rightful land claims

IN SOUTHERN Africa many agree that land reform is an essential component of efforts to reduce poverty and inequality. Any meaningful discussion of land reform in South Africa must start by recognising that those who were dispossessed under apartheid have a right to justice.

Equally important, it must be recognised that the democratic government has already done a great deal through its land reform programme to rectify the injustices of the past. The government must always be central to land reform.

Efforts by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform to introduce mobile office must be commended. Mobile units unveiled by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform have made claiming for land easier for those living in rural areas.

The department introduced four mobile offices that are travelling to various rural areas to grant as many South Africans as possible the opportunity to lodge their claims. The mobile offices are equipped with the relevant technology that will allow the staff to process land claims on site.

The Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform, Gugile Nkwinti, said since last year more than 50 000 land claims had been lodged, but said this time they wanted more people to have a chance to lodge claims. Following the cut-off date (December 3, 1998) for the lodgement of claims, it became evident that many individuals and communities which qualified to lodge claims did not do so.

Many of the communities said the reason they did not claim was because they were not aware of the programme. Last year, President Jacob Zuma allowed for the reopening of the restitution process and it is scheduled to last for five years, giving claimants until 2019 to claim.

I would like to urge all qualifying South Africans who lost their rights to land as a result of the implementation of the 1913 Natives’ Land Act and related racially based legislation to exercise their rights by lodging their land claims. TSHEPO DIALE NKWE ESTATE