Parliament - The Chief Land Claims Commissioner Nomfundo Gobodo has expressed serious concern about the high number of people who take compensation instead of their land back during land claims.
Gobodo, whose term has been extended for another five years, told the portfolio committee on rural development and land reform on Wednesday she was yet to verify the exact number of people who opt for cash instead of land.
This is the same concern raised by Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti in Parliament in his budget speech in May.
Gobodo said they would prefer that claimants take their land back and not the money.
She said she has heard reports that 90% of the people who lodge claims prefer cash than land.
However, she would check the number, but was certain it is a high number of people who take cash.
President Jacob Zuma also raised this in Parliament last week, during the question and answer session with MPs, where he urged people to take the land and develop it.
Zuma said the money gets finished quickly but the land remained with you and generations to come.
He said you can do what you want with your land and develop it into something productive.