L Xingwana: Land handover celebration for Wallmansthal Community

8 September 2007

Program Director
The MEC for Agriculture, Conservation and Environmental Affairs, Khabisi
Mosunkutu
The Chief Land Claims Commissioner, Thozi Gwanya
The Gauteng and North West Regional Land Claims Commissioner
Tumi Seboka, Land Commissioner for Gauteng and North West
The Executive Mayor of Metsweding District Municipality, Councillor Agnes
Mlondobozi
The Executive Mayor of Nokeng Tsa Taemane Local Municipality, Annah
Digoro
Members of Agricultural Organisations present here today
The previous land owner
Land non governmental organisations (NGOs) and other Civil Society
organisations represented here today
Distinguished guests
Claimants as well as beneficiaries
Members of the media

Let me salute the new land owners and say: Halala Bomastandi base
Wallmansthal, Halala! Ubuyile umhlaba, ubuyile!

Today is a day of celebration in Wallmansthal, umhlaba wenu ubuyile! Indeed
today you are putting away the garment of mourning; you are putting on a
garment of joy and happiness as we celebrate the return of your ancestral land.
This occasion marks not only the physical return of the land, but also the
restoration of the identity, and heritage of the Wallmansthal community. I am
happy to be part of this historic moment as you receive the title deed for your
land.

It is said to note that a large number of the people in our country are
living in poverty in this land of plenty. Only a few people are clinging to the
benefits of economic growth and they are not prepared to share wealth. Through
the implementation of legislation such as the Native Land Act of 1913, the
majority of black people in this country were robbed and dispossessed of their
land by the previous apartheid government. Through the land reform program,
this democratic government is committed to redress the injustices of the past.
We are committed to ensure that the majority of our people participate in the
economic opportunities that are created by this democratic change. When we
restore this land we want to see meaningful development and economic projects
that flow from this. This is important in order to ensure that indeed the
country succeeds in its efforts towards meeting the economic growth targets,
improvement of the quality of life for all, economic stability, reconciliation
and nation building. I am standing here representing this ANC led government, a
government that respects the rights of its entire citizenry, including the
rights in land.

Today we are here to witness the fulfilment of the promise of the
Constitution, where your land is being returned to you. We echo the words of
Nelson Mandela and say 'Never Again' shall people be denied their rights on the
basis of the colour of their skin.

The Wallmansthal community first occupied the land under the leadership of
Kgosi Kekana of the Ma-Ndebele tribe in 1867. The community was later joined by
the Berlin Mission society which had been invited by the Kgosi to cater for the
spiritual needs of the community. The community lost its right to the land to
the Berlin Mission Society following the promulgation of the Native Land Act of
1913 which prohibited natives to possess land.

In the 1930s the Berlin Mission Society made the land available for sale to
black people. The people took advantage of this rare opportunity and purchased
large portions of the land. Unfortunately, the community's luck was short-lived
when the Wallmansthal area was declared a 'Blackspot' area and the land was
expropriated from the black people by the previous government. You see,
iExpropriation began with the previous government. There are many distortions
today, that when we are expropriating in line with the Constitution as well as
section 42C of the restitution Act, some people mislead the nation to believe
that there are 'land grabs.' The truth is that we pay market related prices
when we expropriate.

Between the period 1960s and 1970s this community was removed from their
land to Boekenhoutkloof 261 JR in the Soshanguve Township and the surrounding
areas which are today known as Hammanskral and Mabopane.

The first phase of the Wallmansthal claim was settled in 2002 through
financial compensation. For the second phase, the claimant community has
received an additional land released by the Minister of Defence which has been
included as part of the settlement of this claim.

Today, the state is officially restoring to you 4 186 hectares of land. The
settlement of this claim will benefit about 4 270 beneficiaries. I have been
informed that over the years you resisted the temptation to be lured into joint
ventures without first receiving your title deed to the land. Indeed you were
wise by insisting that you handle everything in a well organised manner by
obtaining the title deed first before entering into any negotiations with
anyone regarding the land.

I am pleased with the fact that you have opted to utilise the restored land
for a number of activities such as crop farming, poultry farming, grazing as
well as well as for the development of a high quality residential area.

The geographical location of the land that you are receiving today has a
potential to attract investment into the area. The proposed mixed land use can
indeed boost the job creation initiatives in this area through the
establishment of an industrial park and other tourism related activities.

There are plans to use the military base situated in the area as part of an
adventure route and a wildlife breeding centre. The Wallmansthal community will
provide their managerial, arts and tourism skills to promote and develop the
area as a tourism hub in conjunction with the Dinokeng Tourism initiative.

As the proverb says, where there is a will, there is a way. I am happy to
inform you that there is a lot of goodwill towards the Wallmansthal community,
and if you work well together with those who are willing to assist you, you
will succeed. The Metsweding District Municipality has agreed to include your
project in their Integrated Developmental Planning process. The Municipality
will take the responsibility for the provision of basic infrastructural
services to the land. The Department of Defence which has released 899 hectares
of the land that is being restored to you has made a commitment to erect a
fence between the military area and the restored land prior to re-settlement by
the claimants in the area.

The Provincial Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Land
Affairs (Dacel) has committed itself to provide much needed employment as well
as investment opportunities through its North Eastern Gauteng Initiative
Project (Negi) which aims to establish a biosphere reserve in the area. The
Regional Land Claims Commissioner for Gauteng and North West Tumi Seboka will
ensure that you receive the necessary support with your project through the
Post Settlement and Developmental Support Unit of the Commission which will
assist you with project management and facilitation services.

Our government is committed to ensure that the beneficiaries of the Land
Reform Programme receive the necessary support in order to ensure
sustainability of the projects. In the Limpopo province in the Elias Motsoaledi
area, we have established an information desk which will serve as a one stop
shop to assist the community with relevant information pertaining to the land
reform programs including restitution and agricultural development
initiatives.

Similar structures will be established across the country. In the Gauteng
and North West provinces talks are already at an advance stage to establish a
similar office like the one in the Limpopo province.

I am happy to announce that:

* today we are here to restore a total of 4 186 hectares made up of various
portions of farm Wallmansthal 278 JR, portions of farm Buffelsdrift 281 JR,
Haakdoringlaagte 277 JR, Avenues 1, 2, 3 as well as the last Phase portion made
up of 400 hectors
* because most of you held title deeds to your land before dispossession, about
1 200 ha of the 4 186 ha that we are restoring today will be restored in
individual title. The remainder of 2 986 ha will be held communally through the
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA). Today we are here to give you
your CPA registration certificate, in whose name the communally owned land will
be registered
* we are going to give you Settlement Planning Grants (SPG) from the state.
This is based on R1 440 per household, and thus a total amount of R711 360
00,00 for the claimant community
* we are also giving you Restitution Development Grants (RDG) made up of R3 000
per household, this amounts to a total of R1,4 million for the claimant
community
* furthermore, the state is giving you an amount of R2,5 million which
constitutes 25% of the value of the land as development subsidy in terms of
section 42C of the restitution Act. This money will enable you to initiate
development projects that must improve your quality of life
* the total settlement amount that is being injected into this area towards
development, amounts to R4,7 million
* an amount of R2, 959 400 00 million has been paid to those claimants who
opted for financial compensation. It is very sad that these claimants opted for
money. That money has long been finished. But the land you are getting today
will be yours for generations to come. Even if there are rich people who offer
you money, please don't sell this land. Instead let this land work for you.

This claim was lodged separately by the Wallmansthal Land Claims and the
Berlin Missionary society before the cut of date of December 1998. I am glad
that you have agreed to work together by merging the two committees to form one
Communal Property Association. This is a commendable action indeed, and I urge
you to continue in the same spirit of unity and co-operation. The real work has
just begun, and now more than ever before, you need to work together in order
to ensure that you make the most of this opportunity to rebuild your lives and
leave a legacy for your children.

In some areas where land has been restored to the community, the work of the
Communal Property Associations has been plagued with many challenges. Contrary
to their good intentions of bringing communities together, the CPAs have been
misused by members to achieve their own self interests and divided the
communities into factions. Today I ask of you to focus on a common vision of
developing the restored land for the benefit of generations that will come
after you.

I have learned from Commissioner Seboka that plans are at an advanced stage
to organise a capacity building workshop which will empower you with skills in
the areas of governance, administration and general management skills. The time
for talking is now over, I want to see some action in this project and for the
whole world to hear about your achievements.

Let me close by saying: Land is a valuable resource that can be used to
create wealth for the owners. Today this valuable asset is officially placed in
your hands. Use it wisely to generate wealth for yourself and your offspring,
and thus bring a happy ending to the history of this community.

Igama lama Khosikazi Malibongwe! Halala Wallmansthal, Halala!

Ngiyabonga!

Issued by: Department of Land Affairs
8 September 2007
Source: Department of Land Affairs (http://land.pwv.gov.za)