Johannesburg - Kenton-on-Sea land claimants asked Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti on Monday to re-open the window for lodging land claims.
At a meeting held in the Kenton-on-Sea informal settlement in the Eastern Cape, land claimants said thousands of their neighbours and relatives who had also been forcibly removed from their land were left out during the restitution period, said department spokesperson Mtobeli Mxotwa.
“Their call was endorsed by Minister Nkwinti who informed them that during a national restitution workshop held over the weekend, land claimants made a similar call, saying the research by the department of rural development and land reform to verify land claims was poorly done and that the land claim period of three years was too short,” Mxotwa said.
On Monday, Nkwinti handed over letters to Klipfontein land claimants whose claims were settled so they could submit the letters to their respective banks to claim money before May 27.
The community had opted for financial compensation instead of land. Each claimant would receive R103 541.
“There were 199 claims lodged and 157 of these have been finalised. The outstanding claims would be processed and also paid during the course of the year.”
Mxotwa said Klipfontein residents were forcibly removed from the residential area on April 3, 1979, and relocated at Glenmore in Peddie, about 200km away.
Resident Welcome Ntandani told the meeting that when land claims were submitted between 1995 and December 31, 1998, he was working in Cape Town and was unable to return to the area to lodge his family claim.
He urged Nkwinti to re-open the restitution process so more people could get an opportunity to lodge their land claims.
Another resident, Tatu Ndiliza, said it was unfair for other people to be left out of the land claim process while others were benefiting from their claims. He added that some of the land claimants were not available during the three-year claim period as some were in hospital.
“He said some of his neighbours were not aware of the restitution process because the process was never widely publicised.”
Responding to the demands of the meeting, Nkwinti said he would take up the matter with the Cabinet and the president so it could be considered by the government.
Over the weekend, delegates at the national restitution workshop held in Johannesburg made similar calls for the re-opening of the land claims period, Mxotwa said. - Sapa