hand-over
15 June 2007
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Agriculture and Environmental Affairs Mtholephi
Mthimkhulu, MPL, will deliver a keynote address on Youth Day, Saturday, 16 June
2007 during an official land restitution handover ceremony at Nhlanhleni
outside Dundee in northern KwaZulu-Natal. The Nhlanhleni community was
dispossessed of their land rights as a result of the Group Areas Act of 1950
and the Expropriation Act of 1965. As with most cases of forced removals during
the apartheid era, they were resettled at Mondlo, an area set aside for
Natives, around Dundee and Vryheid. In addition to losing a place they had
called home for many years, the community was put in a predicament that forced
them to sell their livestock at a loss, to the white people in the area. The
people were stripped of their land, their assets and dignity.
The land handover ceremony will see the restoration of full ownership rights
to the Nhlanhleni community which comprises 96 households, 43 of which are
female-headed households. The settlement of this claim will benefit an
estimated total of 576 beneficiaries at a total cost of about R8,7 million. The
community will enjoy physical occupation of the land given back today which is
in extent of 3 842 hectares. The land will also be used for commercial farming,
including game farming. In addition the MEC will also officiate at the handing
over of title to the De Jagersdrift community in the Endumeni Local
Municipality.
There are 11 farms to the extent of 5 973 hectares that were purchased for
the benefit of labour tenants who have lived in that area for generations.
Seventy-two families have benefited from this project and the estimated number
of people that are already involved in the project is 504. The land is used for
cropping and grazing from which a profit of R3 millions was generated in the
previous year. Members of the media are invited to attend and report on this
historic event.
Date: Saturday, 16 June 2007
Time: 10hOO
Venue: Nhlanhleni area � outside Dundee
For more information please contact:
Mbulelo Baloyi
Cell: 082 415 7277
Issued by: Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs,
KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
15 June 2007
