Zuma to handover
land to the N’wandlamhlarhi community
By BRIAN KAJENGO
President Jacob Zuma will, on the 9th of
January 2014, hand over land to the N'wandlamhlarhi Community
Property Association made up of communities who claimed land from Mala
Mala game reserve in Mpumalanga province.
The claimed land
falls within the Bushbuckridge
Municipality under the
Ehlanzeni District, one of the prioritized districts by the Department of Rural
Development and Land Reform due to high levels of poverty.
This process which
forms part of government’s efforts to accelerate land reform programmes will
benefit 960 households.
The Mala Mala
claimants have lodged claims against twenty (21) properties consisting of 63
portions, measuring 65,000 hectares as the total extent. The claimed land
includes the Mala Mala Game Reserve, which is currently operating as an
internationally renowned game farm and ecotourism destination.
The Mala Mala
settlement framework restores a total of 5 farms, consisting of 9 portions,
that is 2 portions of farm Mala Mala No. 359 KU, 2 portions of farm Eyrefield
No 343 KU, 2 portions of farm Flockfield No 414 KU, 2 portions of farm
Charleston No 378 KU and 1 portion of farm Toulon No 383 KU having a total
extent of 13,184.1601 hectares.
After lengthy
negotiations, the legal representatives of the land owners considered a
settlement amount of R939, 360,000 which equates to R71, 250 per hectare for
the purchase of the land in respect of the 13,184 hectares.
“The total land
value appears to be exorbitant, however it should be noted that this is prime
game land that were attested to by expert witnesses in Court,’’ said Minister
of Rural Development and Land Reform, Mr Gugile Nkwinti.
The restitution
will restore the land rights lost to the Mala Mala community and will further
assist with the creation of jobs, opportunity for further education as well as
general development of the area.
Minister Nkwinti
and Mpumalanga Premier, Mr David Mabuza will accompany President Zuma.
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