PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma has expressed concern over land claimants who opt for money instead of land. Speaking at the Traditional Leaders Indaba, President Zuma said he has advised traditional leaders to appoint a firm of attorneys to assist in the issue of land.

“The economic liberation of our people is fundamentally based on land redistribution and ownership and we cannot compromise on this,” he said.

The indaba is being held under the theme, ‘Unity in Diversity-Together moving South Africa forward for an inclusive prosperous future’.

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President Zuma said it is the duty of the people to lodge land claims, but only where they have proof. He said traditional leaders can be very helpful in this regard because their predecessors and forefathers fought land wars.

“What is discouraging to our people is that over 90 per cent of claims are currently settled through financial compensation, which does not help the process at all. It perpetuates the dispossession that we are trying to solve. We urge those who obtain land to utilise it for food production or any other use without selling it and undermining the transformation programme,” Zuma said.

President Zuma said no unlawful occupation of land should be permitted and tolerated, as this will cause chaos in the country.

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