The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform in Limpopo invites members of the media to the giving back of land to the Ba Phalaborwa ba Mashishimale community.
The Deputy Minister of the Department Mr Lechesa Tsenoli accompanied by the Mayor of Ba-Phalaborwa local Municipality Ms Anna Sono will handover title deeds of eleven farms worth R 165 million and at the same time open a newly built Marakapula Five Star Lodge which is owned by the community.
The hectares of the combined eleven farms are more than 16 000 and will benefit 1855 households. The restitution of the eleven farms is part of a build up towards the centenary of the notorious 19 13 Land Act celebration in 2013. The claimants were dispossessed of their land in 1922 when the Assistant Native Commissioner of Leysdorp visited Chief M.L.M Shai ordered him to move his people and the reason being that the land was to be leased to white farmers.
The community never received compensation when they were removed and the claimants were allocated a small portion of Mashishimale Location 800LTfor residential purpose. The claim was lodged by Mrs Mokgadi Catherine Shayi on the 24th November 1998 on behalf of the Baphalaborwa Ba Mashishimale Community.
The event will be held as follows:-
Date: 16 June 2012
Time: 10h00
Venue: Marakapula Lodge
NB:-Journalists who will be attending please confirm by phone or e-mail and for more information contact the following:
Mr Nicholas Magada
Tel: 015 297 3539
Fax: 015 297 4988
Cell: 082 465 7848
E-Mail : ANMagada@ruraldevelopment.gov.za
Mr Motlatsi Lebea
Tel: 015 284 6300
Fax: 011 295 7403/04
Cell: 073 323 9333
E-Mail: MELebea@ruraldevelopment.gov.za
Deputy Minister Mr Lechesa Tsenoli to hand over land to Ba Phalaborwa Ba Mashishimale
