The Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform, Pamela Tshwete, cordially invited members of the media to the awarding of more than R390 million in compensation to people of Ntabethemba villages near Tarkastad on Wednesday, 4 December 2013 at the Community Hall in Thornhill, Ntabethemba.
The total restitution award for the 3 043 households is R390 235 193.21 and the restitution award for Phase 1 is R137 345 350.59 and each household will receive an amount of R128 240.29
This results from claims that were lodged wayback by the late Mr Christopher Mgebisa in 1995 and 1998 on behalf of the Myemane, Batlokoa and Amahlubi Tribes respectively.The people of Ntabethemba claim to have been removed from 23 villages in Herschel and Sterkspruit to Thornhill between 1976 and 1977 as a result of the application of the Citizenship Act of 1970 “ which assigned all African South Africans citizenship in one of the bantustans, whether or not they had ever lived there or had any ties to them”. This act was aimed at resettling Black people outside what was called White South Africa.
The claimants are currently residing in Ntabethemba in the following villages: Merino Walk, Thornhill, Mitford, Bacle’s Farm, Tendergate, Tembalethu, Rocklands, Zola, Phakamisa and Ikhwezi which fall under Tsolwana and Lukhanji Local Municipalities, Chris Hani District. A few people were resettled in Cangca village in Seymour not far from Fort Beaufort.
Due to the complexity of the claim and its size, the Land Claims Commission decided to divide the settlement of this claim into 2 phases: the first phase deals with 1 071 households and the submission was approved by the Minister on the 30 October 2013. The office is still busy finalizing verification for other claimants, who will be in Phase 2.
The event will be held under the following details:
Date: 4 December 2013
Venue: Community Hall, Thornhill, near Tarkastad.
Time: 10h00 - 15h00
For RSVP and further information regarding the event kindly contact the following officials:
Mr Kholekile Sonjica: Eastern Cape PSSC
Tel: 043 700 7030
Cell: 082 419 5253
Mr Thabang Mahlatsi: Communication Services
Tel: 012 312 8376
Cell: 073 112 9756
