President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to preside over the presentation of title deeds to claimant groups who were previously dispossessed of their land rights in KwaZulu-Natal.
The ceremony will be held on Friday at uMzimkhulu in the province’s Harry Gwala District Municipality.
“The handover ceremony, which represents the reinstatement of the affected communities’ rights in terms of the Restitution of Land Rights Act.
“The Department of Land Reform and Rural Development, led by Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso, will restore over 17 000 hectares of land to four claimant communities: the St Paul Community, the Ngunjini Community, the Ndzimankulu/Vierkant Community, and the Lawrence Family,” the Presidency said in a statement.
The statement noted that the handover marks a “significant milestone in government’s ongoing efforts to redress historical land dispossession and restore land rights to rightful beneficiaries”.
Furthermore, the ceremony will also demonstrate government’s commitment to “advancing human dignity, freedom, and an inclusive economy grounded in equitable spatial justice”.
“The event will also acknowledge progress made in resolving land claims and transferring land ownership to beneficiary communities.
“Land restitution remains a critical mechanism for addressing the injustices of the past by restoring access to land rights, including ownership and opportunities for sustainable development.
“This contributes to improved household welfare, economic growth, poverty alleviation, and a better quality of life for affected communities,” the statement read. – SAnews.gov.za
