The Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform, Mr. Gugile Nkwinti together with the Free State Premier Ace Magashule, cordially invites members of the media to the land settlement ceremony to be held at Thaba Nchu in the Free State on the 10th March 2012, at 10h00.
Sediba Reserve is one of the three Native reserves in the Free State Province that were established in terms of the Native Land Act No.18 of 1913, being Thaba Nchu Reserve, Sediba Reserve and Witsieshoek Reserve. Outside these reserves Africans could not buy or rent and inside non-Africans could not acquire rights to land.
The Sediba Reserve claim commonly known as “Stasie” was lodged by Mr. Tau Meshack Motsalane on the 27th February 1997. This claim was accepted and gazetted by the Regional Land Claims Commissioner for Free State and Northern Cape on the 19th October 2007. The areas accepted on this claim where as follows: Bofulo, Houtnek, Kgalala, Longridge, Mariasdal, Merino, Melatswaneng, Modutung, Mokoto, Morago, Moroto, Mothusi, Mpharane, Paradyse, Rakhoi, Roodebult, Rooifontein, Sediba, Spitskop, Tala, Kgamo, Tiger River and Zoeglaagte.
Sediba reserve was declared a betterment area in terms of proclamation no. 39 of 1939. The implementation of betterment generally involved the dispossession of households residential and arable land rights, it also involves communities communal grazing and natural resource rights. Betterment was a racially discriminatory attempt by the apartheid state to reorganise and regulate space in the former homelands.
In order for the apartheid state to be able to reorganise the homelands, it had to claim ownership and control over much of the land.Within Sediba Reserve other people moved from various places such as moving from Rooibult to Bofulo, from Rooibult to Zoetlaagte, Sediba to- Rakhoi.
The event will be held as per the following details:
Date: 10 March 2012
Time: 10h00
Venue: Thaba Nchu
Transport from Bloemfontein to the event will be provided, therefore Journalists should RSVP before: 8 March 2012, 12h00, to make necessary arrangements.
Accreditation: Journalists who will be attending the event will be required to provide their Press Cards for their media organisation or any form of Identity.
For RSVP and further information regarding the event kindly contact the following officials:
Karabelo Raseobi:
Tell: 051 400 4200
Cell: 082 334 5076
Tshepo Diale:
Tel: 012 312 8532
Cell: 071 850 1751
Minister Gugile Nkwinti to hand financial compensation to Sediba Reserve Claim
