R71 land claim battle wages on
Review learned that the land is still being divided into areas and sold to prospective buyers.
POLOKWANE – Despite an ongoing legal case, squatters continue to erect housing structures along the R71 in Dalmada, just outside the city.
A part of the land is under claim by several communities, as processed by the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights. Since the claim has not been finalised, no one knows which community will be relocated.
According to the municipality’s Assistant Manager of Communication, Matshidiso Mothapo, one portion of land belongs to Blue Dot Prop.1(Pty) Ltd and the other to national government.
“According to the deeds records, the affected land belongs to the National Department of Public Works. A portion of the land was purchased a number of years ago by the state on behalf of the Mamahule Community but the property was transferred back to the state, pending resolutions of counterclaims by Mothiba and others,” said Mothapo.
The status of these claims remains unchanged, according to Mothapo however, another portion of land referred to as Ramathlodi Park is owned by Blue Dot Properties.
“According to our records, Maboi Local Government, Kalkfontein Beneficiaries, Maboi Land Reform Steering Committee and concerned residents lodged a joint appeal with the Northern Provincial District Council to stop housing development on this land. In the submission, the Maboi community stated that they lodged a Land Claim on the property in 1996.
“The status of these claims remain unchanged.
A statement obtained from the Land Claims Commissioner dictates that the landowner must mitigate his losses and initiate legal proceedings to interdict the illegal invasion,” said Mothapo.
He added that the municipality understands that an eviction court order is being obtained.
Part of the land is currently owned by a local chief, as well as the Majopelo family, while the remaining land forms part of the ongoing legal case.
Review learned that the land is still being divided into areas and sold to prospective buyers.
Buyers must hand over a deposit of R10 000 with their IDs to secure a stand with the remaining R25 000 payable upon completion of the purchase.
We managed to get comment from the Majopelo family, who said the land belongs to them and that although it was still zoned for farming purposes, processes are underway at the municipality to rezone the land into residential land.
“We allow people to buy land from us but they can only build houses. They are not allowed to build businesses here as that would be breaking the law,” they told Review.
Some of the land is also being given to local cattle farmers to be used as grazing land for their livestock.
According to Mothapo, the land cannot be sold as township zoning must be established prior to the sale of land. This has not been done, he said.
