The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR), in Gauteng, invites members of the media to the title deeds handover to Berlin Mission and Wallmansthal claimants. The title deeds shall be handed over by Minister Gugile Nkwinti on the 23 April 2014.
The Wallmansthal land claim was lodged by two groups; one comprises of individually lodged claims claiming for the loss of registered freehold rights and the second group claimed beneficial occupation rights. The latter group is known as Berlin Mission community as they occupied land that was previously owned by the Berlin Mission Society.
This is the claim which in October 2011 was marred by illegal occupiers who invaded the farms Wallmansthal and Buffelsdrift. On the 2nd of February 2012 the DRDLR obtained an eviction order instructing the sheriff of the court to evict the illegal occupants on the land. The eviction order has since been implemented in Wallmansthal and currently there are no further illegal occupations.
Subsequent to illegal occupations of Wallmansthal land and complaints of undue delays of service delivery lodged by the claimants, the Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform eventually intervened and earmarked Wallmansthal project as one of the priority projects.
On the said date, 23 April 2014, there shall also be signing of the settlement agreement where some of the claimants shall be given letters that show the intent by the department to handover their title deeds.
The event will take place as follows:
(Part 1)
Date: Wednesday, 23 April 2014
Venue: Buffelspruit / Berlin Mission Land
Time: 9h00
(Part 2)
Date: Wednesday, 23 April 2014
Venue: Wallmansthal
Time: 13h00
For more information contact the following:
Mr Tshifhiwa Tshikhudo
Tel: 012 432 4279 / 4201
Cell: 071 850 1805
E-mail: TTTshikhudo@ruraldevelopment.gov.za
Ms Lerato Sehlapelo
Tel: 012 310 6555 / 6500
Cell: 082 418 1795
E-mail: LMSehlapelo@ruraldevelopment.gov.za
