Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) Information Management Unit Deputy Director (DD), Lorraine Mosebedi has warned Winterveld farm claimants at Driekop near Burgersfort
, not to become victims of scammers in their meeting with the Regional Land Claims Commission (RLCC) officials on 22 September 2021 at Gowe Community Hall.
She said some community leaders were wrongfully collecting money from claimants alleging that they would speed up their land claims.
“No individual can push the commission by any means to speed up the land claim process. The Commission works under specific guidelines to ensure that all steps are given necessary attention. Only progress report can be provided upon request to any community leader or individual representing claimants,” indicated Mosebedi.
She highlighted that annual budget limitations, quarrels amongst claimants, claimants providing false information during application mainly contributed towards the delay of the land claim process. This was necessitated by the Winterveld farm claimants wanting to know the cause of their claim’s delay.
The DALRRD DD gave a brief presentation on the restitution programme for the claimants’ benefit. She said its purpose was the settlement of land restitution claims regarding the Restitution of Land Rights Act, 1994 (Act 22 of 1994). The commission was responsible for investigating and processing restitution claims. The commission also developed and coordinated restitution policies and oversaw restitution court cases.
were the media on which land claims were advertised. Thus, the government opened the second batch of applications for land claims starting from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2019.
While the commission was receiving the applications for the second batch, the Constitutional Court ruled that no new applications can be lodged from 28 July 2016 until a new Act re-opening the lodgment of claims is passed. The court interdicted the Commission from processing in any manner whatsoever all land claims lodged from 1 July 2014 until the 27 July 2016, except acknowledging their receipt. These claims are however, validly lodged and will be dealt with when a new Act is passed by Parliament or when the Commission shall have finalised the claims lodged by 31 December 1998.
The highest court in the land gave this ruling in compliance with the Land Access Movement of South Africa, Nkuzi and three Community Property Associations’ request. It is hoped the article will update land claimants in general.
