SKUKUZA – A total amount of R84 million was awarded to six communities on Saturday as settlement of their claims in the Kruger National Park (KNP). This was in respect of land measuring in total 318 000 hectares. More than 750 families will benefit from this compensation.

“We celebrate this milestone in the history of land restitution in our country,” the president Mr Jacob Zuma said during the landmark handover ceremony in the staff village close to Skukuza in the KNP. It was attended by various Mpumalanga, Limpopo and government dignitaries, as well as more than 500 beneficiaries of the successful land claims and more than 5 000 jubilant ANC supporters.

“We are empowering claimants beyond just financial compensation,” said Zuma. “This makes this agreement different as well as a winning agreement that can be a model for others. Also, it ensures that the Kruger remains a global icon of conservation.”

As part of Phase 2 of the compensation claimants have been made part of  a beneficiation scheme  to provide educational and job opportunities for  communities within and outside the KNP.  Government and SANParks will  contribute R1 million a year towards the beneficiation scheme.

Mr Perry Sambo, a representative of the Mpumalanga claimant  communities, said that it was a  historic day of celebration. “We have been  waiting for this day for 18 years. We are grateful to our  leaders who  patiently negotiated this good deal for us. We ask you to ensure that the institutional  and development programmes that are part of the final compensation do not collapse. We hope  that this will also bring the scourge of poaching to an end,” Sambo said.

Three communities from the Mpumalanga province received financial compensation. The Mhlangisweni Community and Sibuyi family comprising 116 households, received a total of R12,8 million in respect of land comprising 48 900ha. The Mathebula Ngirivhane community with 191 households received a total amount of R15 million for 61 100. The Mahashi community’s 191 households received R21 million for 14 924ha.

“This is a day to remember. We are grateful for a caring government who made us elated today. We are not spectators anymore but can partake as communities in restitution,” said Mr Kgoshi Mokoena, representative from the Mpumalanga Provincial House of Traditional Leaders.

Three communities from Limpopo also received financial compensation: Madonsi (R14, 9 million), Ndindani (R5,7 million) and Muyexe (R14,2 million).

Each family would more or less receive R110 000.

Before the award ceremony, Ms Edna Molewa, minister for environmental affairs, addressed stern words , “Show some Leadership!” to ANC marshalls who fixed a 10 metre long ANC banner to the pedestals in front of the stage. It had the potential to turn the celebration for the impending settlement of land into an ANC event. The banner was removed after her stern admonishment just to reappear when marshals held it up to the cheering crowd.

Party T-shirts and other regalia were handed to participants of the event and green and gold decked tables and chairs were seen everywhere.

The bill for more than 100 buses, catering, and entertainment was footed by the Department of Rural Development & Land Reform.

A total of 17 land claims were lodged on the KNP by the initial cut-off date of December 31, 1998. The decision was taken by cabinet in 2008 to give financial compensation rather than land as the only option for the settlement of land claims on the KNP.

South Africans who missed the initial deadline in 1998 can still lodge their claim at any official lodgement site. The land-claim process is open for a period of five years until 31 December 31, 2018.

As at March 31, the commission on restitution of land rights had nationally settled a total of 78 750 land claims, resulting in the transfer of 3,3 million hectares of land to beneficiaries.