Correspondence
The Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development Mzwanele Nyhontso said the Restitution and Transformation of Certain Rural Areas Act projects will bring back the dignity of Richtersveld communities. Nyhontso, Acting Northern Cape Premier Bentley Vass and Northern Cape MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Mase Manopole handed over title deeds to land reform beneficiaries in the Richtersveld area in the Namakwa District Municipality. This will restore the 399 hectares of their land.
The handover is part of the Restitution Programme facilitated by the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development. The beneficiaries included those who suffered dispossession under past discriminatory land and property laws. Minister Nyhontso explained that the land claims were lodged under the Restitution of Land Rights Act, 1994 (Act 22 of 1994) and were verified and processed in line with the legal framework governing land restitution in South Africa. Among the communities who formed part of the beneficiaries included The Tatie Newman CPA and the Vioolsdrift CPA. In addition the projects will form part of the Richtersveld CPA, Pella CPA, Concordia CPA, Kamiesberg Local Municipality, Lieliefontei and Eksteenskuil individual farmers.
Minister said the handover is as a result of Patriotic Alliance Member of Parliament who asked for intervention of the Tranformation of Certain Area Rural Areas in the Namakwa District.
“We worked hard to ensure that we issue the title deed to ensure we restore the dignity of the people of Richtersveld. Title Deed means dignity it means restoration of your land. It also means opportunity of generational wealth. I can assure you we have been crisscrossing the country even next week we will be restoring land in the Western Cape. We want to fastrack the land reform programme we want want the beneficiaries to wait until they die,” said Nyhontso.
“It pains all of us when we are in meetings when we are told that someone has died. It gives us a problem in the identification programme because those who understand are no longer with us. So we are trying to fastrack this process and make sure that we settle early so that we give people their land and restore their dignity.”
When asked about the non existence of the Communal Property Association who are often at loggerheads with communities Minister Nyhontso said CPAs must comply with the law. He said all CPAs that are not complying will be dissolved.
“All CPAs that are not complying will be dissolved. We listened to communities and we will assist them throughout the country. In some CPAs its not three years its ten years and they cannot held elections. Once you stay your welcome we call an AGM to elect a new CPA.
Meanwhile 78 year Willem De Klerk who was part of the beneficiaries said he is excited
“We are excited that our dignity is back because this is our land. I will celebrating my birthday and this means my birthday came early. We say thank to the government to listen to the voices of indigenous communities. But there is so much to be done.We hope the land as far as agriculture is concern will benefit our communities and children economically.”
CAPTION: Minister of Land Reform, Acting Premier of the Northern Cape Bentley Vass and MEC For Agriculture Mase Manopole handed over Title Deeds to the Communities of Richtersveld. Photo Supplied
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