Citizen Online
Friday, November 24, 2006
NELSPRUIT - The future of various business owners and farmers on prime agricultural land hangs in the balance after it became known that a claim for the restitution of land rights had been lodged on their properties.
An estimated 20 000ha of land comprising about 64 farms will be influenced, including areas like Rhenosterkop and Uitkyk.
According to Zithini Dlamini, senior communications officer for the regional land claims commission in Mpumalanga, the claim was lodged by Sicelo Audacious Nkosi, tribal leader of the Mpakeni Tribal Authority.
The claim, covering the areas traditionally known as Mpakeni and Mlegeni, was accepted by the Land Claims Commission as valid. The commission also says the claimants have been verified.
Dlamini indicated that the claim had already partly gazetted and some properties were in the negotiation phase, but others were awaiting the gazette amendment.
Most landowners affected were unaware of the claim.
Dlamini said a number of overlapping claims had been consolidated with the community claim.
There were no competing ones. A professional valuer would be appointed soon to pro- vide a basis for price talks. - CNS