The Portfolio Committee on Rural Development and Land Reform is extremely concerned about the media reports (Sowetan, 27 August 2014) regarding the death of an elderly land claimant in Limpopo who died while queuing through the night to submit a land claim.
The Committee would like to reiterate its call that the Land Claims Commission should fast-track the implementation of plans to increase the number of lodgement centres, including the rolling out of mobile lodgement centres.
“As the Committee we also plead with the communities to exercise patience because the lodgement of land claims is open for a period of five years. The deadline is on 30 June 2019. Therefore there is no need for claimants to spend nights standing in queues.
“We further call on the Commission to strengthen its targeted communication strategies to raise awareness about the lodgement process to ensure such incidents do not recur,” said Committee Chairperson Phumuzile Ngwenya-Mabila.
The Committee has identified oversight on the reopening of the lodgement of land claims as a key priority for the 2014/15 year, and committed to ensuring a continuous monitoring of the lodgement of land claims for the benefit of victims of land dispossession.
The Committee expresses its deepest condolences to the Khuzwayo family for the loss of their beloved one.
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