The original owners of Johannesburg's Alexandra township are demanding title deeds to the land that was taken from them by the apartheid regime 40 years ago.
The Alexandra Property Owners' Rights organisation had been battling the matter with the government for over 10 years now, APOR spokesperson Richard Mbalunkwana said at a meeting in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
He blamed corrupt officials for the government's failure to "properly" compensate the original owners for their land.
In 2002, more than 1 500 APOR members received payouts of R50 000, which they were told was for loss of revenue and rights to their land for more than four decades, during which period they could not sell or mortgage it.
According to Mbalunkwana, the organisation's members believed the money was rental for usage of the land.
They claim they have spoken to local government officials, the City of Johannesburg and the ruling African National Congress for the past 10 years, during which they were promised compensation, but this never materialised.
APOR is finally hoping for a resolution on the matter that would leave them, the government and tenants currently occupying the land happy.
According to a letter from the Gauteng department of local government and housing to APOR, the matter would be discussed at a meeting scheduled for May 29.
Alexandra's recently built flats are located on the land. Mbalunkwana said some tenants in those flats were paying rent to the City of Johannesburg, while others bought the units.
"We do not want them to leave or to demolish the buildings. All we want is for the government to give us title deeds of the land. Then create a workable structure where the tenants would carry on occupying the land and the owners would benefit from it continuously."
APOR said it would co-operate with the ANC, the Law Review Project and Free Market Foundation to expose the officials who were behind what it claimed was their failure to resolve the matter.
Mbalunkwana said on April 29 they marched to ANC headquarters and delivered their memorandum to President Jacob Zuma's office.
"Within four days, there was a positive response that our grievances were receiving attention. We are hoping this matter would be finally be put to rest this year.
"We are encouraged by the ANC's desire to assist us in this matter."
City of Johannesburg spokesperson Brian Mahlangu said he would investigate the matter. - Sapa