The Minister for Rural Development and Land Reform, Mr Gugile Nkwinti, cordially invites members of the media to the land settlement ceremony to be held in Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality at the farm Brakfontein (Groblersdal) Sekhukhune in Limpopo on 6 July 2011.
The Minister accompanied by the Limpopo Premier Mr Cassel Mathale will hand over approximately 1 068 hectares of land, which amounted to R5 076 175.00. The land hand over will benefit a total of 625 households, that is, 239 for Bakwena Ba Kopa and 386 for Mampuru communities, with a total of 392 women - headed households.
The claimants were dispossessed of their land rights gradually when white farmers were issued with permission to prospect for precious and base minerals on the farm Brakfontein 187 JS and white farmers like Mr PP van der Merwe were given permission to lease the farm to graze his cattle. As result the claimants complained of encroachment by whites on the farm in 1955.
The farm Brakfontein 187 JS was the property of South African Native Trust. According to the Department of Bantu Administration and Development the farm was outside the scheduled and released areas. The claimants were called to a meeting on 21 September 1961 where it was pointed out to them that the land which they occupy is the property of the South African Native Trust.
In terms of 1936 Native Trust and Land Act any black owned land in areas outside of the scheduled and released areas were regarded as Black spot, i.e. poorly situated black areas. Those black spots were to be removed. The farm Brakfontein 187 JS was declared a black spot; consequently the claimants were removed.
The event will be held as per the following details:
Date: 6 July 2011
Time: 14h00
Venue: Farm Brakfontein, Elias Motsoaledi Local Municpality (Groblersdal), Sekhukhune.
Accreditation: Journalists who will be attending the media briefing 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:
Mr Motlasti Lebea
Communication Services
Tel: 015 284 6300
Cell: 073 32 39 333
