M Mthimkhulu: Land handover to Nhlanhleni community

16 June 2007

Programme director
Honoured AmaKhosi present
Honourable Members of the provincial legislature present
Your Worship, Mayor of Endumeni Municipality, Cllr Nakanyi
The Chief Land Claims Commissioner, Mr Thozi Gwanya
Regional Land Claims Commissioner, Ms Mayu Sosibo
Claimants as well as beneficiaries
Members of the media
Distinguished guests

Halala boMastandi base Nhlanhleni, Halala!
Ubuyile Umhlaba, Ubuyile!

Today the whole country celebrates in remembrance of the heroic actions of
the youth of this country more than thirty years ago in 1976, when they
revolted against the oppressive government of the apartheid era. It is indeed
befitting that we are gathered here today to celebrate the 'return of the land'
to the Nhlanhleni community. As we salute the class of 1976 for their
contribution to the struggle against racial oppression.

We echo the wise words of our former State President, Comrade Rolihlahla
Nelson Mandela and say, "never and never again shall the laws of our land rend
our people apart or legalise their oppression and repression."

As charged by the President Thabo Mbeki in his speech, 'I am an African,' we
should not be fearful to admit the horrendous actions perpetuated against our
people in the past. We should remember what happened and by so doing, learn not
to be inhuman again. Indeed the promulgation of the Native Land Act (Act No 27
of 1913) by the previous government had a tremendous negative impact on the
lives of black people in this country. It was this piece of legislation and
similar laws and practices that stripped the black citizens of this country of
their dignity and rendered them landless and second class citizens in the
country of their birth.

Programme director, allow me to take this opportunity to salute the
visionaries and forerunners in this community who lodged a land claim for the
Nhlanhleni community. They did this in order to ensure that this community
receive back what was stolen from it by the apartheid regime. I am talking
about people like Mr Willie Madela, Mr Mandlakayise Leo Ntanzi, Mr BN
Buthelezi, Mr Daniel Nhlanhla Moloi, Ms NC Ngobese and all those who assisted
them to ensure the successful lodgement of a claim for the Nhlanhleni
community. The Nhlanhleni community was disposed of their land rights as a
result of the Group Areas Act of 1950 and the Expropriation Act of 1965, and as
with most cases of forced removals during the apartheid era, moved to 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 off their
land, their assets and dignity. The new democratic government is committed to
ensure that there is redress for victims of racial land dispossessions. Section
25 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa makes provision for
equitable access to the South Africa's natural resources by all of the
country's citizens. Through this celebration ceremony, we are giving action to
the statement that says, South Africa belongs to all its citizens.

I am happy that the Umzinyathi District Municipality is in full support of
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. A
process is in place to appoint a service provider who will develop a land use
and business plan which identifies development options for the area. The
business plan will be instrumental in acquiring funds for the implantation of
the land use plan.

A service provider has been appointed to develop a development and land use
plan for the area that has been identified for residential purposes. I am happy
that the claimants have committed themselves to continue with the commercial
farming operation on the farm to ensure sustainability. It is encouraging to
note that the previous land owner is willing to assist the new land owners
through mentoring and transferring of skills with regard to the game farming
and other tourism related activities. In its endeavour to reverse the negative
impact of the racially motivated land dispossessions perpetuated by the
previous government, the department has delivered approximately four million
hectares of land into black hands since 1994 through the government's land
reform programmes.

During the previous week, the department restored the land rights of the
Greater St Lucia Wetland Park communities, as well as those of the Hlabisa and
Mpukunyoni community in Hluhluwe near Richards Bay. The Commission on
Restitution of Land Rights has settled a total of 2 772 claims during the
2006/7 financial year. This brings the total number of claims settled since
1995 to 74 417 which constitutes more than 90% of the 79 676 claims lodged with
the commission by the cut off date of 31 December 1998. To date, approximately
1 650 851 hectares of land valued at R5,2 billion was restored to 251 862
households with a total of 1 273 043 beneficiaries through the restitution
programme.

There are about 5 279 claims that are still outstanding. We recognise the
fact that some of these outstanding claims will be difficult to finalise by
2008 due to a number of reasons including among others; challenges with claims
where there are boundary disputes involving traditional leaders, untraceable
claimants as well as cases that have been referred to the Land Claims Court for
adjudication. We are engaging with the various relevant stakeholders such as
the Traditional Leadership, Agricultural Organisations, Non Governmental
Organisations (NGOs), state department, etc in order to fast-track the
finalisation of outstanding claims.

To facilitate sustainability, the department is engaging stakeholders in the
government and private sector to solicit support and reinforcement of the
settlement support offered to land reform beneficiaries. During a meeting with
the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) on Wednesday at the
University of Pretoria, Minister Lulu Xingwana asked this question, what is it
that Research Institutions and NGOs can do to assist government in ensuring
that the beneficiaries of land reform programmes are adequately skilled to make
optimal use of the land transferred to them?

In a short period of ten years, we have covered a lot of ground in terms of
settling land claims lodged with the Commission. There are still some
challenges that need to be overcome, and time is not on our side. We are
pressing on. In line with the State President's State of the Nation Address,
SiyaGijima as we intensify our efforts in finalising the remaining claims. We
are indeed encouraged by the Constitutional Court ruling regarding the Popela
land claim in the Limpopo province for tenancy rights for the nine individual
families. It is time for the land owners to put an end to their delaying
tactics and come to the negotiation table in order for us to finalise the
outstanding claims.

De Jagersdrift Cluster Labour Tenant Project

Today we are also handing over 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 million was
generated in the previous year. I want to commend this community for their
perseverance in working hard to see that their rights are restored to them. We
are glad that as negotiations with the previous land owners continued, we were
able to reach an agreement without having to go to court to have the validity
issues which were raised by the farmers resolved.

With goodwill, the project cycle on this project commenced and properties
were transferred with all the parties working in good harmony. Since the
transfer a number of other sector departments have shown great commitment in
support and sustainability of this cluster. The Speaker's Office of Endumeni
Local Municipality, Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs and
three white commercial farmers who previously owned these properties have been
very helpful in realising the success of the project.

The grant allocation for this project is as follows:

Item: Land acquisition
Cost: R12 000 000
Implementation: R 5 000 000
Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP): R 1 500 000

Let me congratulate the new land owners, the Nhlanhleni community as well as
the De Jagersdrift community. I charge you to use the land in a sustainable
manner that will improve the livelihood of every community member in this
area.

Ubuyile!!!
Umhlaba!!!
Igama lamakhosikazi!!!
Malibongwe!!!

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs,
KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
16 June 2007