Hundreds of former District Six landowners are closer to restitution - more than 13 years after they filed their claims.
The Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform is expected to confirm before Wednesday that 300 out of 800 landowners, who asked to be moved back to the area, will be accommodated.
This follows a month-long process of completing all outstanding owner claims, including the verification of documents and updating of claimant information to ensure compliance with the required regulation.
The Commission on Restitution of Land Rights appointed two service providers, FG & W Development Projects cc and Sekhona IT Solutions, to interview claimants at the Moravian Church in District Six at the end of last week.
Beverley Jansen, the Western Cape Land Claims Commissioner, said owners had now been called to verify their claims.
The providers had to get personal information from each of the 300 owners, their siblings or other blood relatives to confirm the claims.
"The verification process included an interview whereby principal claimants could update their details, and perhaps surviving brothers and sisters or family members needed to show how they fit into the claim," she said.
All claimants had to show all the relevant documents to prove they had valid claims.
All claims had to be lodged before the end of 1996.
"Nobody can lodge claims now, and all those who have filed claims and have proof are entitled to restitution," she said.
Jansen said owners would have to fit into the town planning of the area, which includes commercial enterprises, a school and clinics, following the finalisation of the District Six business plan due next year.
"This is now the final process. We are well on track. There is a national task team comprising all national, provincial and local officials working together. While the commission works with the various verifications, there are experts working on the other aspects like the architects and town planners," she said.
There was, however, more than enough land, and people from other areas seeking restitution might also be given land there, according to Jansen.
- Cape Argus
The Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform is expected to confirm before Wednesday that 300 out of 800 landowners, who asked to be moved back to the area, will be accommodated.This follows a month-long process of completing all outstanding owner claims, including the verification of documents and updating of claimant information to ensure compliance with the required regulation.
All claims had to be lodged before the end of 1996 |
The Commission on Restitution of Land Rights appointed two service providers, FG & W Development Projects cc and Sekhona IT Solutions, to interview claimants at the Moravian Church in District Six at the end of last week.
Beverley Jansen, the Western Cape Land Claims Commissioner, said owners had now been called to verify their claims.
The providers had to get personal information from each of the 300 owners, their siblings or other blood relatives to confirm the claims.
"The verification process included an interview whereby principal claimants could update their details, and perhaps surviving brothers and sisters or family members needed to show how they fit into the claim," she said.
All claimants had to show all the relevant documents to prove they had valid claims.
All claims had to be lodged before the end of 1996.
"Nobody can lodge claims now, and all those who have filed claims and have proof are entitled to restitution," she said.
Jansen said owners would have to fit into the town planning of the area, which includes commercial enterprises, a school and clinics, following the finalisation of the District Six business plan due next year.
"This is now the final process. We are well on track. There is a national task team comprising all national, provincial and local officials working together. While the commission works with the various verifications, there are experts working on the other aspects like the architects and town planners," she said.
There was, however, more than enough land, and people from other areas seeking restitution might also be given land there, according to Jansen.
- Cape Argus
No comments:
Post a Comment