A dragged-out land-claim process involving a group of farms near Heidelberg, Gauteng, has fuelled tensions and disrupted agricultural production, according to a committee of land owners.
In a statement released at the weekend, the land owners said that while farmers are usually blamed for delaying the restitution process, they have done everything in their power to expedite the process and have accepted valuations done by the land-claims commissioner.
The Kudung community is claiming the 10 farms, said the community’s lawyer, Henri Bonsma.
At the beginning of this month, the farmers said they had received correspondence from the land-claims commissioner informing them that the commissioner had requested Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs Thoko Didiza to speed up the submission.
However, the farmers have heard nothing since. In the meantime, the claimants have become impatient, the land owners said.
”On October 19, the fences of one of the farms were cut, and cattle were allowed on to the land. This action, whether caused by the claimants or occupants of the neighbouring farm, caused a confrontation between the claimants and the farmers.”
They said someone, believed to be a member of the Kudung community, threatened to torch one of the farmers’ property if the community did not receive immediate occupation of the farms.
Meanwhile, at the beginning of the new farming season, some of the farmers whose livelihood depend on the outcome of the claim have already disposed of their equipment.
”Not only are the lives of the farmers affected, but also the lives and future of farm workers staying on these farms,” the land owners said. ”The land owners are suffering damages because of the failure of the land-claims commissioner and the ministry of agriculture and land affairs to finalise this matter.”
The farmers’ committee said it has on various occasions requested the Land Claims Commission to provide it with progress reports.
”Up until now, no feedback has been received.”
Congress Mahlangu, spokesperson for the regional land-claims office for Gauteng, said: ”We acknowledge that there has been a lack of progress.”
This is because there is an influx of claims waiting to be finalised by the chief land-claims commissioner. In relation to this particular claim, new information was presented and it had to be redone.
The claims also have to be personally vetted by Didiza, he said, who is ”very busy”.
There are about 120 claims waiting to be finalised, he said. The parties met on September 19 to address the delays.
”At the meeting, we resolved that the commissioner will go personally to head office and make sure the process moves with the speed of light,” Mahlangu said. ”We go to the head office and make sure that we keep them on their toes — we continually remind them.”
He urged farmers who have not sold their equipment yet to continue farming. There will be discussions regarding the harvests when transfer of the land comes up.
Mahlangu said he cannot give an estimate of when the claim will be finalised.
Gauteng regional land-claims commissioner Blessing Mphela was not immediately available for comment. — Sapa