The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform and the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights have learned with sadness of the passing of 86 year old Ms Nyanisi Khuzwayo. The Limpopo pensioner is reported to have passed away after spending a night queuing outside the land claims lodgement site in Polokwane.
The department wants to send heartfelt condolences to the Khuzwayo family.
Chief Land Claims Commissioner Ms Nomfundo Gobodo said the Commission wishes to once again re-iterate that the land claims process has been re-opened for a period of five years ending June 2019.
There is therefore no need to rush to lodge land claims as sufficient time has been set aside over the next five years to allow all South Africans who were dispossessed of their land after June 1913 to lodge their claims.
“It is indeed very sad that our communities are continually falling victim to misinformation spread by individuals wishing to exploit vulnerable members of society”, said Ms Gobodo.
She added that the Commission has also been made aware of rampant acts of fraud and exploitation where especially the elderly are asked to pay money to lodge their claims. These complaints have been brought to the attention of the law enforcement agencies.
Lodging a land claim is a free government service and charging anyone for such a service is a criminal offence.
The department assessing the department also wants to re-assure communities that mobile lodgement units will be dispatched to far- flung rural areas of our country in order to allow everyone who has a valid claim to access the land claims process.
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