SA settles 90% of land claims
Michael Appel
27 July 2007South Africa has settled at least 90% of land claims lodged since 1994, the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights said on Wednesday.
Commission spokesperson Linah Makhubele told BuaNews that about 74 000 of the 79 000 claims lodged between 1995 and 1998 had been settled.
At the same time, Makhubele said the government's target for settling all outstanding claims by 2008 would be difficult to meet, with many of these tied up in the Land Claims Court due to issues such as disputes over community and traditional leadership.
South Africa's success in land restitution is the result of a speedier administrative process, similar to that used in Germany, rather than the more cumbersome judicial process used in countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
Land restitution is seen as essential for political stability, economic growth and the protection of property rights in SA. The process was set in motion in the late 1990s to restore land rights lost after 1913 as a result of racially discriminatory policies such as apartheid.
First community-driven national park
Announcing its latest settlement, the commission said it would be handing over 16 000 hectares of land near Potchesftroom in North West province, valued at R54-million, to the Barolong Boo Bodiboa Ba Matlwang tribe on Saturday.
Vuyani Nkasayi, spokesperson for the Gauteng and North West Land Claims Commission, told BuaNews that the tribe, working with South African National Parks and North West Parks and Tourism, would be using the land to establish the first national park in the province.
To be called Highveld National Park, the national park will also be the first in South Africa to be established by a local community.
Source: BuaNews
