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The official signing ceremony is due to take place on:

DATE: Friday, 26 February 1999

TIME: 10:00 a.m.

VENUE: The Moffat Mission Station in Kuruman, Northern Cape.
(between Hotazel Road and Seoding Road, almost 5 km outside Kuruman)

The Kono Community Trust instituted a claim on 12 farms in the Kuruman district from which they were removed in 1959 in terms of the so-called black sport removals. Most of the 137 families involved were moved to compensatory land +-30 km away, others preferred to move to the Batlhaping section at Manyeding and Seoding. The State later subdivided the Kono land into 12 farms, selling 9 to private individuals and retaining the rest.

The farmers owning the 9 farms at first took the position that they would resist restitution. One of the farmers however, was willing to negotiate with the State and the claimants. The position taken by the current owners could have only been attributed to a lack of knowledge about the restitution process. Adv. W.A. Mgoqi and the staff of the Commission's satellite office in Kimberley made a concerned effort to make it clear to all people involved, what the restitution process was about. The case was then referred to the Land Claims Court in 1996, due to the apparent refusal of the land owners to enter into negotiations. During 1997 the claimants appointed an attorney with the assistance of the Legal Aid scheme and the Court ordered the parties to enter into negotiations. The Land Claims Court also required the State to provide valuations for the farms involved. A mediator was then appointed who reported to the Land Claims Court, the outcome of the negotiations at the end of March 1998. It seemed that a final decision by the Land Claims Court would be the only way to resolved this claim.

During subsequent negotiations however, it came to light that the farmers were not happy with the prices offered by the State for the farms. Proposals are in place in terms of which the valuations of the farms would be increased by between 4% and 8%. It is also provided that, when the Deeds of Settlement are signed, 50% of the purchase price would be paid out to the farmers within two weeks.

The Title Deeds to the farms will be handed over to the Kono Community at a later stage.

A communal property associated will be formed by the community to manage the farms and the Department of Land Affairs will give the Kono community priority access to State resources for the development of housing and other infrastructure.

You are herewith cordially invited to attend the signing ceremony and the celebration that will follow.

Please direct all inquiries to:

The Commission on Restitution of Land Rights, 73 Strand Street., Matrix House, Cape Town, 8001. Tel. (021) 426-2930 or Fax. (021) 424-5146

OR

Kotli Modise on 0828247078

OR

Our Kimberley Satellite Office at:

The Commission on Restitution of Land Rights, New Public Building, Corner of Knight & Stead Street, 6th Floor, Kimberley, 8301.
Tel. (053)8315 246 or Fax. (053) 8315 391 / 8314 095

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