The Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature, Hon Supra Mahumapelo, marks the centenary of the Native Land Act of 1913 that limited African land ownership to 13%.
Hon Mahumapelo said the act restricted black people from buying or occupying land except as employees of a white master. “It gave white people ownership of 87% of land and leaving black people to scramble for a mere 13%."
“On this day we also commemorate the death of Sol Plaatjie on 19 June 1932 whose famous quote read “awaking on Friday morning, 20 June 1913 the South African native found himself not actually a slave but a pariah in the land of his birth,” said Hon Mahumapelo.
He said although many are not happy at government’s slow pace of giving back the land, the legislature appreciates effort by government to fast-track the redistribution through the new amendment to the Expropriation and Restitution of Land Rights Amendment Bill.
Government’s view is that the Bill will pave way for the re-opening of the land claims process that has been closed in 1998. The Speaker encourages all those who could not make it in 1998 due to the deadline not to miss the next opportunity.
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