Land worth R2,2-billion has been restored to South Africans who lodged land claims, the Land Claims Commission said on Friday.
Tozi Gwanya, Chief Land Claims Commissioner, said out of 79 696 land claims lodged nationally, 68 730 have been settled — benefiting 186 862 households.
He said that land restitution had a role to play in achieving economic growth by focusing on achieving development and an improved quality of life.
This after a quarterly meeting was held with commissioners to inform the public on the progress made in settling the land claims.
With over a million hectares restored to some claimants, those in urban areas had received financial compensation of over R2,3-billion.
Urban claims that were still outstanding would be settled this year, while the 7 000 rural claims remaining would be settled by March 2008.
Development grants worth R677-million have been allocated for planning and development of the land delivered to the claimants.
Gwanya said the challenge had always been ensuring restored land was used productively, efficiently and sustainably.
”When the state settles the claims where people have chosen physical restoration of their land and development, there are financial grants that are attached to the settlement of the claim for planning and developmental purposes.
”The post settlement in restitution depends on the nature of the settlement. For instance, it can take the form of a township establishment, housing, agriculture and commercial farming nature, eco-tourism projects or infrastructure development.”
A 56 household community of Farmerfield that was removed in 1962 and dumped at Mimosa near King William’s Town has been restored to their original land.
This restoration marked the construction of 56 houses.
The Farmerfield community was a victim of the consolidation of the Ciskei homeland as well as the whitening of the rural South Africa, when they were forcibly removed from their ancestral land near Grahamstown to Mimosa near East London. – Sapa