Celebrations as state-owned plantations handed over to communities
The government will assist the community with a financial injection
There was singing, ululating, joy and celebrations when two government-owned plantations were handed to traditional communities in Tlokoeng (formerly Mount Fletcher) on Thursday.
Batlokoa traditional council head Kgosi Montoeli Tyrone Lehana accepted the Fort Usher and Lehana plantations on behalf of his community.
He told forestry, fisheries & environmental deputy minister Maggie Sotyu that not only would the plantations create economic opportunities, they would go a long way in restoring the dignity of the Batlokoa people.
The plantations, of 127.7ha and 89.4ha respectively, are planted with eucalyptus trees.
Sotyu said the department would help the community with machinery and other resources to work the plantations and ensure they were sustainable.
The plantations are on communal land under the jurisdiction of the Batlokoa Traditional Council.
Nearly 24 years ago the council, representing the Batlokoa community, requested the department to enter into a community forestry agreement to manage the plantations.
Sotyu said investigations confirmed the extent of the Batlokoa community’s land rights to the plantations.
“The Eastern Cape Regional Land Claims Commission also confirmed that there were no land claims lodged against these plantations.
“The plantations are essentially woodlots that are used by communities for firewood.”
Sotyu said the government had previously managed the plantations.
“The plantations are not in a very good condition after some trees were destroyed and fences stolen. But now the community has taken ownership and responsibility for safekeeping it and managing it.”
She said an agroforestry project could be introduced under which the community could use some of the land to plant crops, such as maize.
“The government will assist the community with a financial injection.
“The government will work with the communities and also bring in some partners, like Forestry SA, who have shown interest in the plantations’ development.
“We will start by training the community on how to manage the forest and bring in some department officials who will work day and night with the communities to ensure that they understand everything and know how to benefit economically from the plantation.”
Lehana said the community had applied to manage the forests in 1998.
“The government has now responded positively and we are very happy; we celebrated. This journey took us almost 24 years.
“We are also happy that the government will assist in ensuring that the projects are sustainable. There will be economic benefits and we are looking at employing no less than 50 people.
“Much of the plantations were neglected and trees stolen, with the community not benefiting from the plantations in their areas.
“Now they will benefit in all the 11 administrative areas under me.”