Cape Argus E-dition

‘Off our sacred land, Bezos’

TSHEGO LEPULE tshego.lepule@inl.co.za

TWENTY-SIX years later and for District Six claimants land restitution is frustrated by endless red tape and empty promises.

Loss of documentation, lack of communication, disputes over claim dates and who benefits when a claimant dies were highlighted by claimants who spoke about their frustration with the process this week.

The Western Cape Legislature’s standing committee on human settlements heard oral submissions on behalf of and by claimants.

The latest delay affects the handing over of 108 homes to claimants from the phase three development. They were shown the “ready-to-move-in” homes in June following a visit by Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Thoko Didiza.

One of the frustrated claimants, Ebrahim Mohamed, said they were made to feel like fools. He expected to move into his home six months ago but has heard nothing but excuses.

“The reason they are citing is that the City, which is meant to issue occupation certificates, has not issued them … Kicked out of our homes in 1972, we suffered such humiliation and pain, and we are made to suffer again and made to feel like fools.

“Are they waiting for people to die? Why is there no sense of urgency on the part of the department? We are being treated with no dignity, (but) with the attitude that you are getting your house for free and you will get it when you get it. We have waited 26 years and nobody is telling the real reason why.”

Shambonisa Davids, 42, speaking on behalf of her mother Shamila Davids, 79, said they had submitted their claims in 2014, but she was worried that her mother might never get her home if older claims were taking decades to finalise. “If these people are waiting so many years, I don't know how long my mother will wait for her house … Will she even be alive by then?” said Davids.

Melvin September, whose mother died before her claim could be finalised, said beneficiaries of deceased claimants were being “placed at the back of the line”. September said their claim process began in 1996 and was formally registered in 1998, but the death of her mother had put the family back to square one.

“My mom passed on and I was told I am now a new claimant, therefore I have no news from them,” he said.

The department’s spokesperson, Reggie Ngcobo, said the issue around what happens to the claim of a deceased claimant depended on whether the parent had a will. The Restitution Act made it clear that direct descendants could be substituted as claimants if there was no will.

The ANC’s Pat Marran called out the national government for failing to handle the District Six matter properly.

“The national Department of Rural Development, when it comes to this specific matter, has failed claimants. There is no way that you have submitted your claim prior to the cut-off date of December 31, 1998 and you are still waiting for a house,” he said.

The City’s Malusi Booi called on Premier Alan Winde to raise the matter with President Cyril Ramaphosa.

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2021-11-28T08:00:00.0000000Z

2021-11-28T08:00:00.0000000Z

http://capeargus.pressreader.com/article/281642488444927

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