The Ndzundza Ndebele of Kaffers-kraal, near Stoffberg in Mpumalanga, recently celebrated the return of the first parcel of land they can rightfully call home.
Now other Ndebele scattered around South Africa are waiting for the rest of the farm and 17 others in the area, about 36 000ha, to be handed over to the tribe.
Kafferskraal farm was known as KwaJejazani when the Ndzundzas occupied the area in the 18th century. White farmers put pressure on the Ndebele to move as they converted the area into large commercial farms. Many were forcibly removed in 1939 when the then colonial government earmarked the area for the construction of the Rooikral dam.
Three leaders who resisted the removals are buried at Kafferskraal. Inkosi Matsisi Somtshatshane Ma-hlangu, Mtshatshane Jonas Mahlangu and Commissioner Mthunjwa Ma-hlangu contested government actions for about 50 years.
Matsisi was arrested for defying the government, but was installed as chief of the tribe after he was released in 1901. From 1934 to 1954 Mmooiman Mahlangu, then leader of the community, was forced to give in to pressure after farmers, backed by the government, forced the community to leave their ancestral lands.
The Ndzundza community was moved to KwaDlaulale, outside Nooitgedacht in Mpumalanga. They have been fighting to get their land back for the past 10 years.
The Ndzundza have reclaimed only 2 321ha for about 700 beneficiaries in 30 to 40 households. The remaining two portions of Kafferskraal farm are being contested in court. The case will be decided on December 9 in the Randburg Land Claims Court.
The two other portions are almost equal to the land that was reclaimed. Seventeen other farms they say should belong to them are occupied.
“A service provider, which will consult closely with the community and the Commission [on Restitution of Land Rights], will be appointed to plan how best the area can be developed and then draw up a business plan,” said Nceba Nqana, Mpuma-langa’s land claims commissioner.
“The community will have to see which business will be best for their welfare. They will then have to sell the idea and develop it themselves,” said Nqana.
Simon Shabangu, chairperson of the Sibuyel’ekhaya Land Claims Committee, said the community was considering whether to farm or use the land for industry.
Nqana said the community could get help from the National Development Agency, the Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs and the Land Bank.
He said the land affairs department and the Land Bank would assess how much money was needed to develop the area under the Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development Programme.
This initiative “aims to provide people with access to land for residential and productive purposes, thereby improving their income and quality of life, to assist the poor, new entrants to agriculture, farm workers, labour entrants and women and will increase black ownership of commercial agriculture,” Nqana said.
“The Commission on Restitution of Land Rights has what is called the restitution discretionary grant. This is where a household is granted R3000 for infrastructure or for agricultural development and a local council will then act as an implementing agent,” said Nqana.
Shabangu said the community wanted to create jobs. “This we can do through farming, starting factories and pursuing other business interests that might benefit the community. We will never exclude the government; we are here because of it,” said Shabangu.
He said the community would plan on how to involve the corporate sector in the development programme. “We should strive to ensure that this place becomes the second Pretoria or Johannesburg.”
Chief Poni Maphepha III said he did not want to see a squatter camp develop on the property. “I will consult with the residents’ committee and identify what will be important in starting the development of this land,” he promised.