Today is a day of jubilation for the community of Sebilong, situated just outside Thabazimbi, in Limpopo, as they received their title deeds from Deputy President Paul Mashatile.
All roads led to Thabazimbi on Friday as the community gathered to witness the title deeds handover ceremony. This landmark ceremony represents a significant milestone in advancing land reform efforts aimed at redressing the injustices of historical land dispossession and restoring land rights to rightful beneficiaries.
The Sebilong community successfully lodged their land claim with the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights more than a decade ago.
According to local community members, the Sebilong Land Claim was lodged by Lazasrus Nkale Tisane on behalf of 89 originally dispossessed households totaling 1 071 verified beneficiaries.
The claimed land is Farm Zwartkop 369 KQ which consists of 21 portions located within the Thabazimbi local municipality which is located in the Waterberg District.
After the claim was approved, the CPA opted for both land restoration and financial compensation.
Through the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development, under the leadership of Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso, more than 340 000 hectares of land has been restored to the community.
Community member Anna Tisani told SAnews.gov.za that they have been waiting for this day to come.
“Although we are getting our land back, I am sad because some of the people we started this journey [with] with have passed on, but I am happy that their families are still here and they will enjoy the benefits.
“I am happy that we are finally getting our land back. We waited for too long for our land to be brought back to us,” she said.
Another community member, Mido Moela, told SAnews that they planned to use the land for ploughing to benefit the community.
“We have been waiting for this day to come. We thank all those who led us during the claim process. It was not easy but we made it. Our children are going to benefit from our land,” Moela said.
Young and old came in their numbers to witness the occasion when the Deputy President hands over the title deeds to the successful land claimants.
To date, the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development has settled over 83 721 land claims nationally, resulting in the transfer of approximately 3 916 733 hectares of land.
This progress underscores government’s continued commitment to resolving land claims and facilitating equitable land ownership among affected communities.
The Deputy President is accompanied on the title deed handover by members of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Land Reform and Agriculture, the Premier of Limpopo, Dr Phophi Ramathuba, Members of the Limpopo Provincial Executive Council, leadership of the Waterberg District Municipality and Thabazimbi Local Municipality as well as representatives of the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights.
READ | Mashatile to hand over title deeds in Limpopo land restitution milestone
-SAnews.gov.za
