An ongoing strike at Modikwa platinum in Limpopo has forced the government to suspend the handing over of title deeds on the mining land of Tubatse.
“The event has been suspended. We will be announcing a new date as soon as we get a go-ahead,” said Limpopo rural development and land reform department spokesman Motlatsi Lebea.
The handover was scheduled to take place on Wednesday (Human Rights day) as part of the government's efforts to restore dignity to people whose land was taken away from them decades ago, he said.
Lebea said the department was impressed by a deal entered into between community and the mine, which would enable the community to benefit from mining.
The mine was expected to pay rental to the community and to use beneficiaries' businesses, incorporating them into mining trades.
Lebea said the mine would make a cash payment of R4.3 million to the community - the value of the land on which the mine now operated.
In total, 19 people lodged separate claims to the Land Claims Commission in 1998, after the government introduced the land redistribution programme.
The beneficiaries were dispossessed of their land in 1979. - Sapa