Commission on Restitution of Land Rights commissioner, Nokwanda Ntloko-Gobodo, has told Mthatha business owners to not let unsettled land claims derail their business and developmental plans, saying the land that is subject to claims still belonged to the municipality until the commission has made a ruling.
Ntloko-Gobodo was a keynote speaker during the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) launch of the Risk Capital Fund and the Small Town, Rural and Township Entrepreneurship Programme at Savoy Hotel in Mthatha, on September 29.
The ECDC also presented its annual performance report for the 2021/2022 financial year during the event.
She further told those in attendance that the commission would never give developed land back to land claimants as that is regarded as non-restorable land in law.
“When you listen to people talking about restitution or land claims, they see it as a barrier, but it is an opportunity because we give communities land, we provide development funding and even bring in transactional advisers for the benefit of the broader community.”
“We get told that the commission is standing in the way of development in Mthatha due to the yet to be finalised land claims by the Zimbane and Lindile communities.
“I want to state categorically that this is a lie because we have no intention of taking anybody’s property to restore a land claim,” Ntloko-Gobodo said.
She said the law provides for land claimants to be offered alternative land or be financially compensated in cases of a successful land claim with portions that are deemed non-restorable.
“When a community lodges a claim, it does not translate to that community owning the land until it is transferred to them. This perception that says the land is owned by the claimants is incorrect. The land is owned by the municipality and the municipality has an obligation to look after it and ensure that there is development,” said Ntloko-Gobodo.
She concluded by challenging those in attendance to take an interest and ensure that communities that are financially compensated for successful land claims are able to live from the money given to them by the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights.
