Pretoria - The Portfolio Committee on Rural Development and Land Reform has urged the Land Claims Commission to fast-track the implementation of plans to increase the number of lodgement centres, including the roll out of mobile lodgement centres in deep rural areas.
The committee was reacting to media reports regarding the death of an elderly land claimant, Nyanisi Khuzwayo, 86, who died last week Tuesday, while queuing through the night to submit a land claim.
Committee Chairperson Phumuzile Ngwenya-Mabila said the committee was extremely concerned about the pensioner’s death.
“As the committee we also plead with communities to exercise patience because the lodgement of land claims is open for a period of five years.
“The deadline is on 30 June 2019, therefore there is no need for claimants to spend nights standing in queues.
“We further call on the commission to strengthen its targeted communication strategies to raise awareness about the lodgement process to ensure such incidents do not recur,” she said.
Ngwenya-Mabila said the committee had identified oversight on the reopening of the lodgement of land claims as a key priority for the 2014/15 financial year.
It is also committed to ensuring a continuous monitoring of the lodgement of land claims for the benefit of victims of land dispossession.
“The committee expresses its deepest condolences to the Khuzwayo family for the loss of their beloved one,” she said. - SAnews.gov.za
