17 September 2006
The North West provincial government will assist the community of
Vogelfontein to use the land returned to them productively so that they could
contribute to the economic growth and development of the country. This
commitment was made by North West Premier, Edna Molewa, on Saturday when
Vogelfontein land was officially returned to its rightful owners after more
than 96 years.
"Today we all bear witness to the righting of the wrongs, to the return of
respect and human dignity to a people who were unjustly robbed of these noble
qualities," said Molewa, adding that she was delighted because she had come to
Vogelfontein "to rewrite an important chapter of our history by restoring land
not only to its rightful owners but people who shall work the land to achieve
maximum benefits for the community, the economy and the general population of
the province."
The history of Vogelfontein stretches back as far as 1910 when Johannes
Masilo bought shares in the farm that was originally granted to J H Prinsloo.
Soon after Masilo, other black people bought shares in the farm so that it was
now subdivided into several portions, with the claimants holding both
registered and unregistered land rights and black people becoming co-owners
with white people in undivided shares of the farm.
However, in 1921 the farm was subdivided and ultimately the then South
African Government expropriated some of the portions that were declared "Black
Spots" as a result of the Development Trust and Land Act of 1938. The laws of
the time did not allow the registration of land ownership in the name of
Africans. As a result of this, very few black people held registered land
rights and those who purchased land were compelled to have properties
registered in the names of the Native Commissioners or the Missionaries on
their behalf.
"This is the sad but true history of the land that we are restoring today,"
remarked the Premier. It became clear as this claim was investigated that
portions of this farm were sold for different prices to different buyers and,
like most forced removals or expropriation cases, the people were not given a
choice to contest the compensation they received.
"It is therefore clear to us that compensation was not just and equitable
but was done in terms of apartheid policy and therefore insufficient to put the
claimants in a position that they were in before dispossession," said
Molewa.
To the 4 100 members of the Vogelfontein community who will benefit from the
restoration of this property, Molewa had a word of advice: "Use the land wisely
and productively. Use the land for the development and growth of your families
and the entire Vogelfontein community."
Enquiries: Cornelius Tanana Monama
Spokesperson
Tel: (018) 387 3456
Cell: 082 578 4063
Issued by: Office of the Premier, North West Provincial Government
17 September 2006
