2 800 land claims finalised

A TOTAL of 3 852 land claims have been submitted in the Northern Cape since the inception of the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform’s restitution programme in 1995.

Of these, 2 887 have been finalised. This emerged following a parliamentary question by the DA’s Annette Steyn to the Minister of Land Reform.

The majority of the claims in the Northern Cape were settled through financial compensation. Among the highest claims paid includes the Lohatla land claim of R95 million, the Postmasburg land claim of R34.8 million, the Phokwani Mixed Location of R44.38 million, and the Holpan Community Claim of R36.7 million.

A claim of R35.3 million for Louisvale and Louisvaleweg was also paid out, as well as one of R22.9 million for the Keimoes Urban Land Restitution and R30.6 million to the Gong Gong community.

Land transfers included 21 851 hectares, worth R57 million, of agricultural land that was transferred in terms of the Vreede Family Land Claim in the //Khara Hais, ZF Mgcawu municipalities, and 17 329 hectares of grazing and agricultural land, worth R55.6 million, to settle the Kuiepan Community Claim in the Gamagara, John Taolo and Gaetsewe municipalities.

Ten thousand hectares of game farming land was transferred to the Madibeng Community in the Joe Morolong, John Taolo and Gaetsewe municipalities, worth R61.9 million, while 6 703 hectares of irrigation, game farming and livestock grazing ground, worth R43.4 million, was transferred to the the Seoding Community.