R13,9m compensation for land claims

THE office of the regional land claims commissioner handed over R13,9 million to the Mhinga-Xikundu claimants as financial compensation for losing their land through Apartheid forced removal.

The handing over ceremony was held at Magomani Primary School in Xikundu village, Malamulele last Saturday.

Each of the 132 households which were forcefully removed from their ancestral land by the Apartheid government in 1969 received R10 837.

According to the communications manager in the office of the regional land claims commissioner, Avhashoni Magada, the community land claim had been approved for financial compensation as the land was not restorable.

“The amount allocated represents the full and final settlement of the community land claim lodged by Risenga Samuel Chauke in December 1998,” Magada said.

He said the community was dispossessed of its land rights due to racially discriminatory laws and practises.

He added that ethnicity became a determining factor as to where people were to be moved. The Tsonga-speaking group was ordered to settle at Botsoleni and Magomani villages situated in the then Gazankulu homeland area, while the Venda-speaking group were transported by G.G Trucks across the Luvhuvhu River to Lukalo and other villages that fell under the former Republic of Venda.

The chief director in the office of the regional land claims commissioner, Tele Maphoto, urged the claimants to use the money to improve their lives and that of their families.

Land claimants, Njakanjaka Maluleke (81) and Mamayila Chauke (75) could not hide their excitement when Maphoto handed them their money vouchers.

“The waiting is finally over, it’s like a dream come true,” Chauke said.