Speech by Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs Lulama Xingwana on land handover celebration for the Wallmansthal Community, Metsweding District Municipality

Program Director
The MEC for Agriculture, Conservation and Environmental Affairs, Khabisi Mosunkutu
The Chief Land Claims Commissioner, Thozi Gwanya
The Gauteng and North West Regional Land Claims Commissioner
Tumi Seboka, Land Commissioner for Gauteng and North West
The Executive Mayor of Metsweding District Municipality, Councillor Agnes Mlondobozi
The Executive Mayor of Nokeng Tsa Taemane Local Municipality, Annah Digoro
Members of Agricultural Organisations present here today
The previous land owner
Land non governmental organisations (NGOs) and other Civil Society organisations represented here today
Distinguished guests
Claimants as well as beneficiaries
Members of the media

Let me salute the new land owners and say: Halala Bomastandi base Wallmansthal, Halala! Ubuyile umhlaba, ubuyile!

Today is a day of celebration in Wallmansthal, umhlaba wenu ubuyile! Indeed today you are putting away the garment of mourning; you are putting on a garment of joy and happiness as we celebrate the return of your ancestral land. This occasion marks not only the physical return of the land, but also the restoration of the identity, and heritage of the Wallmansthal community. I am happy to be part of this historic moment as you receive the title deed for your land.

It is said to note that a large number of the people in our country are living in poverty in this land of plenty. Only a few people are clinging to the benefits of economic growth and they are not prepared to share wealth. Through the implementation of legislation such as the Native Land Act of 1913, the majority of black people in this country were robbed and dispossessed of their land by the previous apartheid government. Through the land reform program, this democratic government is committed to redress the injustices of the past. We are committed to ensure that the majority of our people participate in the economic opportunities that are created by this democratic change. When we restore this land we want to see meaningful development and economic projects that flow from this. This is important in order to ensure that indeed the country succeeds in its efforts towards meeting the economic growth targets, improvement of the quality of life for all, economic stability, reconciliation and nation building. I am standing here representing this ANC led government, a government that respects the rights of its entire citizenry, including the rights in land.

Today we are here to witness the fulfilment of the promise of the Constitution, where your land is being returned to you. We echo the words of Nelson Mandela and say 'Never Again' shall people be denied their rights on the basis of the colour of their skin.

The Wallmansthal community first occupied the land under the leadership of Kgosi Kekana of the Ma-Ndebele tribe in 1867. The community was later joined by the Berlin Mission society which had been invited by the Kgosi to cater for the spiritual needs of the community. The community lost its right to the land to the Berlin Mission Society following the promulgation of the Native Land Act of 1913 which prohibited natives to possess land.

In the 1930s the Berlin Mission Society made the land available for sale to black people. The people took advantage of this rare opportunity and purchased large portions of the land. Unfortunately, the community's luck was short-lived when the Wallmansthal area was declared a 'Blackspot' area and the land was expropriated from the black people by the previous government. You see, iExpropriation began with the previous government. There are many distortions today, that when we are expropriating in line with the Constitution as well as section 42C of the restitution Act, some people mislead the nation to believe that there are 'land grabs.' The truth is that we pay market related prices when we expropriate.

Between the period 1960s and 1970s this community was removed from their land to Boekenhoutkloof 261 JR in the Soshanguve Township and the surrounding areas which are today known as Hammanskral and Mabopane.

The first phase of the Wallmansthal claim was settled in 2002 through financial compensation. For the second phase, the claimant community has received an additional land released by the Minister of Defence which has been included as part of the settlement of this claim.

Today, the state is officially restoring to you 4 186 hectares of land. The settlement of this claim will benefit about 4 270 beneficiaries. I have been informed that over the years you resisted the temptation to be lured into joint ventures without first receiving your title deed to the land. Indeed you were wise by insisting that you handle everything in a well organised manner by obtaining the title deed first before entering into any negotiations with anyone regarding the land.

I am pleased with the fact that you have opted to utilise the restored land for a number of activities such as crop farming, poultry farming, grazing as well as well as for the development of a high quality residential area.

The geographical location of the land that you are receiving today has a potential to attract investment into the area. The proposed mixed land use can indeed boost the job creation initiatives in this area through the establishment of an industrial park and other tourism related activities.

There are plans to use the military base situated in the area as part of an adventure route and a wildlife breeding centre. The Wallmansthal community will provide their managerial, arts and tourism skills to promote and develop the area as a tourism hub in conjunction with the Dinokeng Tourism initiative.

As the proverb says, where there is a will, there is a way. I am happy to inform you that there is a lot of goodwill towards the Wallmansthal community, and if you work well together with those who are willing to assist you, you will succeed. The Metsweding District Municipality has agreed to include your project in their Integrated Developmental Planning process. The Municipality will take the responsibility for the provision of basic infrastructural services to the land. The Department of Defence which has released 899 hectares of the land that is being restored to you has made a commitment to erect a fence between the military area and the restored land prior to re-settlement by the claimants in the area.

The Provincial Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Land Affairs (Dacel) has committed itself to provide much needed employment as well as investment opportunities through its North Eastern Gauteng Initiative Project (Negi) which aims to establish a biosphere reserve in the area. The Regional Land Claims Commissioner for Gauteng and North West Tumi Seboka will ensure that you receive the necessary support with your project through the Post Settlement and Developmental Support Unit of the Commission which will assist you with project management and facilitation services.

Our government is committed to ensure that the beneficiaries of the Land Reform Programme receive the necessary support in order to ensure sustainability of the projects. In the Limpopo province in the Elias Motsoaledi area, we have established an information desk which will serve as a one stop shop to assist the community with relevant information pertaining to the land reform programs including restitution and agricultural development initiatives.

Similar structures will be established across the country. In the Gauteng and North West provinces talks are already at an advance stage to establish a similar office like the one in the Limpopo province.

I am happy to announce that:

* today we are here to restore a total of 4 186 hectares made up of various portions of farm Wallmansthal 278 JR, portions of farm Buffelsdrift 281 JR, Haakdoringlaagte 277 JR, Avenues 1, 2, 3 as well as the last Phase portion made up of 400 hectors
* because most of you held title deeds to your land before dispossession, about 1 200 ha of the 4 186 ha that we are restoring today will be restored in individual title. The remainder of 2 986 ha will be held communally through the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA). Today we are here to give you your CPA registration certificate, in whose name the communally owned land will be registered
* we are going to give you Settlement Planning Grants (SPG) from the state. This is based on R1 440 per household, and thus a total amount of R711 360 00,00 for the claimant community
* we are also giving you Restitution Development Grants (RDG) made up of R3 000 per household, this amounts to a total of R1,4 million for the claimant community
* furthermore, the state is giving you an amount of R2,5 million which constitutes 25% of the value of the land as development subsidy in terms of section 42C of the restitution Act. This money will enable you to initiate development projects that must improve your quality of life
* the total settlement amount that is being injected into this area towards development, amounts to R4,7 million
* an amount of R2, 959 400 00 million has been paid to those claimants who opted for financial compensation. It is very sad that these claimants opted for money. That money has long been finished. But the land you are getting today will be yours for generations to come. Even if there are rich people who offer you money, please don't sell this land. Instead let this land work for you.

This claim was lodged separately by the Wallmansthal Land Claims and the Berlin Missionary society before the cut of date of December 1998. I am glad that you have agreed to work together by merging the two committees to form one Communal Property Association. This is a commendable action indeed, and I urge you to continue in the same spirit of unity and co-operation. The real work has just begun, and now more than ever before, you need to work together in order to ensure that you make the most of this opportunity to rebuild your lives and leave a legacy for your children.

In some areas where land has been restored to the community, the work of the Communal Property Associations has been plagued with many challenges. Contrary to their good intentions of bringing communities together, the CPAs have been misused by members to achieve their own self interests and divided the communities into factions. Today I ask of you to focus on a common vision of developing the restored land for the benefit of generations that will come after you.

I have learned from Commissioner Seboka that plans are at an advanced stage to organise a capacity building workshop which will empower you with skills in the areas of governance, administration and general management skills. The time for talking is now over, I want to see some action in this project and for the whole world to hear about your achievements.

Let me close by saying: Land is a valuable resource that can be used to create wealth for the owners. Today this valuable asset is officially placed in your hands. Use it wisely to generate wealth for yourself and your offspring, and thus bring a happy ending to the history of this community.

Igama lama Khosikazi Malibongwe! Halala Wallmansthal, Halala!

Ngiyabonga!

Issued by: Department of Land Affairs
8 September 2007