‘Grootbrak claims have been delayed’

THE Commission on Restitution of Land Rights has admitted to bottlenecks requiring urgent review as Grootbrak claimants have been waiting for answers for 22 years.

Yesterday, the Western Cape Legislature’s petitions committee was briefed by the commission on the progress of land claims lodged by former tenants who were forcefully removed from 10 different areas near Mossel Bay in the 1960s.

While the commission said claims were settled in three phases for the Mossienes, Klipkop, Sanddrif, Diepdraai, Kalkrug, Die Dam, Rooirandjies, Congkamp, Saagkamp, and Tannerykloof areas – there was still an outstanding claim from the Voetpad area and disputes over the denied claim of Souwesia.

The commission said phase one saw 358 claimant households with 1 668 beneficiaries paid R21.1 million in 2010, the second group of 264 households received R16.9m in 2014 and the last 30 household were awarded R3.3m last year.

The debate over Souwesia, which measures 82.3806 hectares in size,

The land must come back to its rightful owners Barry Jacobs FORMER RESIDENT

came after the commission declared the claim non-complaint as it was for recreational rights and not residential.

According to the commission, the site was used as a coloured camping site once a year during the summer holiday season before they were removed in 1966.

Barry Jacobs, who lodged the petition with the committee, said the land belonged to those who lived in it and should be returned to the claimants.

“Souwesia, which is controlled by the Mossel Bay Municipality, is being rented out by the municipality and where is the money they get from those rentals going?

“That land must come back to its rightful owners. The camping site should be used by all but parts of it should be returned,” he said.

The commission’s regional director, Dr Wayne Alexander said while claimants may file correct claims, it does not automatically mean that they comply with the law.

“According to the act you (claimants) would have had to stay on the site continuously for over 10 years for the claim to be valid and the fact is the site was only being used for a certain period during the year.”

The claim on the Voetpad land is still outstanding as the commission awaits research reports on the extent of the claim. A report, Alexander said they cannot say how long it will take to finalise.