The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform is pleased with progress made toward efforts to allow for descendants of the Khoi and San communities, and all communities who resided on heritage sites and historical landmarks, to claim land from which they were forcibly removed before 1913 through past discriminatory laws and policies.
At a two day (Wednesday and Thursday) consultative conference led by the Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform Mr. Gugile Nkwinti in Johannesburg, representatives of the various affected communities agreed to the formation of a single reference group to deal with what is termed the “exceptions to the 1913 cut-off date for land claims” to accommodate descendants of the Khoi and San, and those communities who resided on heritage sites and historical landmarks.
The Reference Group is made up of representatives of organisations who deal with land related matters, non-governmental organisations, the youth, organisations of rural women, organised agriculture and communities.
The Reference Group will report back in 6 months, after which the policy will be referred to Cabinet for consideration.
This will pave way for the redistribution of land to the descendants of the Khoi and San dispossessed before 1913 and to everyone where the land is a heritage site or a historical landmark.
The Minister made the announcement following discussions with members of the National Reference Group (NAREG) on ways to accommodate the Khoi and San communities, heritage sites and historical landmarks on land restitution issues.
The consultation session was another step towards the implementation of the state President’s announcement of a process to consider exceptions to the 1913 Natives’ Land Act 1913 cut-off date.
The consultative session was preceded by the organisation and mobilisation of the Khoi and San communities throughout the country for them to participate in the process.
Under review were exceptions to the 1913 cut-off date, which are an intervention to address the limitation in the restitution programme, in that only those who lost land after 1913 can lodge claims for restitution.
Attended by various stakeholders on land related issues who serve on the NAREG, the National Consultative Conference established a Reference Group that will develop policy and legislation on the exceptions to the 1913 Natives Land Act cut-off date.
The department also awaits President Jacob Zuma to sign into law the Restitution of Land Rights Amendment Bill, which will reopen the lodgement of land claims for five years.
Enquiries:
Ms Linda Page
Tel: 012 312 9648
Cell: 083 460 4482
Sivuyile Mangxamba
Tel: 012 312 8438
Cell: 082 886 3707
