Community members have organised a meeting to discuss the way forward in the long running Farm Doctor land restitution claim amid allegations of a lack of transparency by the committee appointed to represent them.

This follows a press statement released by the committee last week where a warning was sounded to the community ‘not to fall to bogus meetings’.

Responding to that statement Sandile Magwaza, a community spokesperson, disputed that claim, saying that the meeting was organised by community members seeking answers about the progress of the land claim.

Magwaza said the meeting was called after repeated attempts to obtain information and updates from the committee had allegedly failed.

He accused the committee of using the media to mislead the community and deflect accountability.

“The community wants clarity and answers,” Magwaza said, explaining that the meeting was intended to discuss the way forward following concerns about the handling of the claim.

Allegations of financial benefit

Magwaza further alleged that the committee had been benefiting financially from money linked to the land restitution claim and was deliberately delaying the process.

These allegations have not been independently verified.

He said community members wanted the committee to be transparent about developments in the claim and provide an account of its handling.

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