Johannesburg - A historic R2 billion land claims agreement has been reached between disgruntled Alexandra property owners, the City of Joburg and the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements.
This means the redevelopment of Alexandra through the Alexandra Renewal Project can finally go ahead.
In 2005, large-scale government developments planned under this project ground to a halt when the Alexandra Land and Property Owners’ Association (Alpoa), representing 2 533 property owners, got a court interdict stopping any infrastructure development in the old section of the township.
Alpoa has for years been trying to get these properties - purchased by the owners from as early as 1912 from farm owner Herbert Papenfus - restored to them.
At the time, Alex was one of the few areas where black people could buy land. However, in 1958, these properties were expropriated by the apartheid government, which wanted to relocate the township. The landlords became tenants to the government.
In 2000, the government paid out R50 000 to many families in compensation, but land owners claim that was merely compensation for their loss of tenure. They have been demanding their land back, or compensation - where it cannot be returned - for years, with little success.
But on Saturday, a statement of intent was signed.
Joburg mayor Parks Tau said that as part of the agreement, each claimant would be provided with a solution equivalent to the monetary compensation that may be payable in respect of the property concerned.
The monetary compensation will be based on a proper land valuation process in accordance with applicable government policy.
Each claimant can select one of four options, equivalent in value to the monetary compensation determined in respect of the property.
The four options are:
- Provision of title deeds for stands in Alexandra.
- Provision of alternative stands.
- Participation in a planned redevelopment of Alexandra.
- Financial compensation.
Based on an assumption that all 2 538 property owners will apply for monetary compensation, it is estimated that it will cost the government between R1.8bn and R2bn to implement the agreement, he said.
Tau said, during a meeting with Alexandra residents last week, a resolution to the dispute would result in more land being acquired for development in the township.
The government has land available in Marlboro Gardens, Lombardy East, Kelvin and Linbro Park for the provision of alternative land to claimants.
Other stakeholders in the matter include the Alexandra Property Owners' Rights, South African National Civics Organisation and the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights.