Condolences to Limpopo family pensioner

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Pretoria - Government has sent heartfelt condolences to the family of a Limpopo pensioner, Nyanisi Khuzwayo, who died after spending a night queuing outside the land claims lodgement site in Polokwane.

According to reports, Khuzwayo, 86, died last week Tuesday.

Chief Land Claims Commissioner Nomfundo Gobodo said the land claims process has been re-opened for a period of five years (ending June 2019). She said the five-year period is enough time for all South Africans, who were dispossessed of their land after June 1913, to lodge their claims.

“It is indeed very sad that our communities are continually falling victim to misinformation spread by individuals wishing to exploit vulnerable members of society. We want to send our heartfelt condolences to the Khuzwayo family,” she said.

Gobodo said the Commission has also been made aware of rampant acts of fraud and exploitation, where especially the elderly are asked to pay money to lodge their claims.

“These complaints have been brought to the attention of the law enforcement agencies. Lodging a land claim is a free government service and charging anyone for such a service is a criminal offence,” she said.

The Land Claims Commissioner also reassured communities that mobile lodgement units will be dispatched to deep rural areas in order to allow everyone who has a valid claim to access the land claims process.

Victims of land repossession, who missed the original land claim deadline, have been granted an opportunity to lodge their claims until 2019.

It is estimated that at least 3.5 million people were forcibly removed from their land as a result of colonialisation and apartheid laws implemented after 19 June 1913. - SAnews.gov.za