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12 August 2007

The Programme Director,
His Majesty the King,
Abantwana bondlunkulu namakhosi onke akhona lapha,
The MEC for Agriculture and Environmental Affairs, Mtholephi Mthimkhulu
Members of Parliament present here today,
The Mayor,
All the Councillors present here today,
Distinguished guests,
Claimants and beneficiaries,
Members of the Zulu and Buthelezi communities,
Members of the media

Halala Zulu and Buthelezi communities, Halala!
Halala boMastandi, Halala!
Ubuyile umhlaba wenu, Ubuyile!

It gives me great pleasure to be part of this occasion today which marks the restoration of the land rights to the communities of Zulu and Buthelezi which were taken away from them by the previous government. Today is a day of restoration. Halala Zulu community, Halala! Halala Buthelezi Community, Halala!

I want to thank the two communities for heeding the call by government for victims of racially motivated land dispossession to lodge claims for restitution. Other people did not respond to the government's call to lodge claims before the cut off date. We are told that some of the people did not believe that a black government could undo what had been decreed by a white government. They thought that it was just a dream and wishful thinking by the members of the new democratically elected government. Hamba liba tjele uguthi this thing works, it is happening, amalungelo omhlaba a buyile kuBantu.

I am glad that the two communities have agreed to work together on this claim, under the leadership of the chairperson, Mzingeli Masuku. More than ever before, we need the spirit of co-operation to continue to ensure that every member of the community benefits from the settlement of this claim.

The Zulu and Buthelezi communities lost unregistered beneficial occupation rights when they were forcefully removed from the land. The removals started during the period around 1968 and intensified during the period between 1972 and 1975. This was indeed a sad event for the communities who had lived on the land from as early as 1897. The communities used the land for cattle grazing, burial and residential purposes.

The Natal Parks Board seized the area in which the communities stayed, for the purpose of establishing a game reserve. The extend of the area taken over by the board steadily increased in size over the years until 1979 as more land was seized to form part of the game reserve.

Today we are restoring the land to you through full title deed on the land without physical occupation of the land. I am happy that through negotiations you have agreed for the land to continue to be used as a game reserve. This is in line with the provisions of the legislation on land that fall under Protected Areas. As the owners of the land, the community will now benefit from the economic proceeds that emanates from the game reserve.

I am happy that an agreement for joint management of the park will be signed between the Nature Conservation Board and the claimant communities. In line with Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) policy of the government the current biodiversity management authority shall ensure that the principles of BBBEE shall be implemented. This shall also be in line with the Tourism Charter and the preferential procurement Framework.

The existing Management Authority shall continue to manage the claimed land after registration. The co-management agreements shall uphold the principles of economic viability, financial sustainability and holistic management of the Protected Area. In addition, co-management agreements shall avoid fragmentation of the Protected Area or duplication of management functions. It is important that the management authority and the claimants work on the plan for skills transfer through training, mentorship and experiential management as a matter of urgency.

The claimant communities will enjoy regulated rights in terms of fishing, gravesites, medicinal products ,incema, ikhwani, umhlanga and bee keeping. The claimants will also be able to participate in economic activities that happen in the park which are related to the tourism industry.

I want to announce today that:

* In line with Section 42C of the Restitution Act, the government is giving the claimant community an amount of over thirty nine million rand as financial aid towards development initiatives. This amount constitutes 25% of the land cost. The money will be released upon the submission of an approved business plan.
* The 312 household from the Zulu community will receive a total amount of R1.3 million from the state as settlement planning grants.
* In addition, the Zulu community will also receive an amount of R39.9 million from the state towards development.
* The 184 households from the Buthelezi community will receive a total amount of R3.1 million from the state as settlement planning grants.
* The households from the Buthelezi community will also receive a total amount of R8.7 million from the state towards development.
* Each of the households that were physically removed from the game reserve will get financial compensation of R10 000 per household, for the loss and specifically for agreeing not to physically occupy the land after we have settled this claim.

The whole country is celebrating the role of women in the development of our society during this moth of August. Ladies and gentlemen this government is serious about the promotion of the social and economic advancement of the women in our country. Through programmes such as Women in Agriculture and Rural Development (WARD) and other similar organisations, the government is working hard to ensure that there are systems in place to assist in the improvement of the life and living conditions of women, including economic development.

As we remember the women heroes of our country who contributed to the upliftment of the lives of women, I would like to challenge the women in the two communities to stand up and work together to improve the livelihood not only of their households, but of the entire community. To the men in this community I say: Give the women the space to contribute to the development initiatives in this area. History has shown us that women are strong. The theme for this year's women's month celebration is: 'Emancipation, Empowerment, Equality and Eradication of Poverty Now!' Women have a role to play in the new economic emancipation struggle that we face today. They did it in 1956 when they marched to the Union buildings to protest against the oppressive government's humiliating laws and practices proclaiming that they also like their husbands and brothers, must always carry a 'dompas' wherever they go which restricted their movement in terms of where they stay and where they work, and had to produce it whenever the 'baas' demanded to see it to make sure that they were not trespassing. Halala abomama, Halala!

The women took a stand to make their voice heard. Just like the Lillian Ngoyis of the 1950s did, I am challenging the women leaders in this community to stand up and lead the women to make their presence felt in this community.

Let me congratulate you on the return of your land. As part of the agreement that will be signed here today, it is recorded that the claimants shall not, after registration of transfer of the claimed land into the name of the trust on behalf of the claimants, sell, exchange, donate, or otherwise dispose of the claimed land or any portion thereof other than to an organ of state unless the claimed land is no longer part of the proclaimed protected area. It is recorded that in this instance the Minister in agreement with the MEC for Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs shall have the right of first refusal. I urge you to take good care of wealth that is being placed back into your hands. It is a heritage for your future generations.

I request that we all stand and pay tribute by observing a moment of silence for all those who have gone before us for their eternal rest, even before this claim was settled. In particular let us remember Inkosi Zulu who was very active for this claim. I will be left with no option but to expropriate if we have current landowners who resist our land reform process. I therefore encourage every one to co-operate.

Ubuyile umhlaba wenu, ubuyile!
Halala Zulu community, Halala!
Halala Buthelezi community, Halala!

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Land Affairs
12 August 2007
Source: Department of Land Affairs (http://land.pwv.gov.za)