THE Cabinet has approved the appointment of advocate Wallace Mgoqi as the country’s new Chief Land Claims Commissioner. Mgoqi is the former regional land claims commissioner for the Western and Northern Cape, and replaces Joe Seremane, who was fired and has subsequently been elected a Democratic Party member of the National Council of Provinces. Announcing the appointment, Land Affairs Minister Derek Hanekom said that Mggoqi, a victim of apartheid forced removals, distinguished himself as a fighter for human rights, both as lawyer and activist, for which he received numerous awards, he said.