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[1]        This matter involves the Bhangazi Community, who, historically was a group of people who once lived in the area of the St Lucia Estuary. During the 1950’s, the erstwhile government commenced with evictions and forced removals of the members of the community who lived in this area, in order to give effect to plans to establish a conservation area and to convert other areas into pine and gum plantations.

 

[2]        The St Lucia Wetlands Park (as it was previously known) was accordingly established as a conservation area, and in 1999 it was declared a world heritage site.

 

[3]        The communities who had been dispossessed of their land rights, filed a claim for restitution, as they were able to do after the enactment of the Restitution of Land Rights Act.[1]