Paper giant Sappi said on Wednesday it would sell a 25 percent stake of its local forestry land to empowerment group Lereko Property Consortium for R224-million.

One of the objectives of the deal is to help resolve 43 land claims against Sappi, Business Day reported on Thursday.

The claims affected 40 000 hectares of the paper group's 360 000 hectares. Virtually no progress had been made with the claims, said André Wagner, chief executive of Sappi's southern African business.

Former Tourism and Environment Minister Valli Moosa and former North West Premier Popo Molefe head Lereko.

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