Baralong Boo Mariba gets Restitution

Mr Sechogela Harrison Tshabang lodged a claim on the 28th December 1998 in accordance with the requirements set out in the Restitution of Land Rights Act, Act 22 of 1994, as amended.

The claimant lodged the claim in his capacity as direct descendant of one of the original dispossessed persons. The claim was lodged in a prescribed claim form on behalf of the community.

In total, 91 properties have been lodged by Barolong Boo Mariba, situated in the Molopo Local Municipality, Bophirima District, North West Province. The land claim on the 91 properties have since been investigated and researched and the land claim proved the land claim prima facie valid. The land claim was found to be complying with the acceptance criteria of land claims in terms of Rules.

The Barolong Ba Ga Mariba community is claiming beneficial occupational or unregistered rights in the 91 farms.

The office of the RLCC has undertaken a process of verifying persons of the Barolong Boo Mariba community who suffered dispossessions they amounted to approximately four hundred and twenty two (422) households.

HISTORY OF THE LAND AND DISPOSSESSION

The community stayed near the Molopo River using the land for farming and residential purposes. Around 1933 there was an outbreak of animal disease and white farmers advised the community that the only way to control the disease is by establishing camps or fence around the area. That was when they started erecting fences separating the black’s livestock from the whites livestock. The community was told not to put their livestock across the established fence and since then the rest of the community was cut off the rest of the claimed properties

In terms of the Restitution of Land Rights Act, the dispossession of the rights claimed must have taken place on or after 19th June 1913.  The dispossession of the Barolong Ba Ga Mariba community took place from 1930’s onwards.

Restitution.

Source: www.ruraldevelopment.gov.za

Restitution

Purpose

The purpose of the restitution programme is to provide equitable redress to victims of racially motivated land dispossession, in line with the provisions of the Restitution of Land Rights Act, 1994 (Act No. 22 of 1994).

Objective

To resolve restitution claims within the target period through negotiated settlements that restore land rights or award alternative forms of equitable redress to claimants.

Intended Impact

• Facilitate access to land by victims of racially motivated land dispossessions that took place under the previous government.
• Poverty alleviation through sustainable development on restored land as well as improved livelihoods.
• Foster the rights of vulnerable groups in terms of ownership and participation in economic activities.
• Foster national reconciliation and stability.

The Rights of Land Owners and Claimants

If you were disposed of a land right after 19 June 1913 in terms of racially discriminatory laws and practices, you are entitled to restitution of that right or equitable redress. All claims are against the state, no one may be deprived of property except in terms of law of general application. All interested parties are invited to engage in the process of negotiating the settlement of a claim. The restitution process is implemented in line with the provisions of Section 25 of the Constitution of South Africa which places an emphasis on equitable redress.

The Commission is committed to facilitate negotiations amongst all interested parties in order to settle the claims administratively.

For more information go to www.ruraldevelopment.gov.za

For further information on programmes by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform contact them at 0800 0070 95