Title deeds for 4 000 families
9 December 2003
More than 4 000 families in Klipgat in North West province - made up of about 30 000 people - have finally received the title deeds for land they have occupied since 1912.
Klipgat, situated about 45km north-west of Pretoria, is nestled between Hebron and Mabopane and falls under the Bojanala district municipality.
Handing over the title deeds on Sunday, Agriculture and Land Affairs Deputy Minister Dirk du Toit said that cooperation between politicians and communities was "essential in developing people's lives. The government has worked hard to reverse the effects of apartheid laws."
The people were settled at Klipgat by a local farmer who, before granting them permission to stay, required the men to herd his cattle and the women to work in his fields.
In the 1960s, the apartheid government took over Klipgat from the farmer, forcing those who remained to apply for permission to live in the area. They were given Permission to Occupy
certificates by the then Commissioner of Land.
Speaking at the function, North West MEC for Agriculture Edna Molewa called on communities to look after their land, and to use it to fight poverty and create jobs by farming.
One of the first residents of Klipgat, Josephine Mokwena, expressed joy at finally owning her property. "Now we have a place of our own. I can now rest in peace", said the 101-year-old grandmother.
Source: BuaNews
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