Locals lodge land claims
Locals commend the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform for bringing its mobile offices to the community.
HIGHVELD – Residents have commended the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform for bringing mobile offices to the communities.
The Department recently brought a mobile office to Sijongile Ndamase Community Hall in eMbalenhle and Raymond Mavuso Community Hall in eMzinoni.
Officials were welcomed by long queues already formed by claimants who arrived during the early hours of the day long before the truck arrived.
Mr January Mabhena, land claimant, said he was happy that Government has reopened the process of lodging land claims.
“The word that government had tried to spread across South Africa for the victims of land dispossession to lodge their claims, did not reach all corners of South Africa, hence many of us failed to lodge our claims before the lapsing of the first cut-off date of 31 December 1998.
“I am here to claim my ancestral land from which we were forcefully removed during the early eighties. Seeing this land being restored back to our family will be the best gift I have ever received in my life.”
Mr Amos Ntuli, who is physically challenged, also arrived to lodge his claim of property known as Kleinfarm.
After he lodged his claim and was handed an acknowledgement letter, he could not stop commending the department and it officials for the VIP treatment he had received at the hands of highly trained and dedicated department officials who went the extra mile to ensure that despite his physical disability, he still received quality service.
Mr Gideon Mudzweda, the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform communications officer, said this was an opportunity for the victims of land dispossession to be able to access lodgement offices without having to spend money on transport.
“In all the regions within the province, victims of land dispossession who missed the first cut-off date of 31 December 1998 are always curious to know when the mobile bus or truck will be in their area, hence when it was announced that the mobile truck would be deployed in Gert Sibande, the news was welcomed.
“Though apartheid was demolished more than 20 years ago following the dawn of democracy, its aftermath is still being felt across the depth and breadth of South Africa.”
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