The Khoi And San People Agree To Work With Government In Restoring Their Land Rights 16 APRIL 201.

The Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform, Mr Gugile Nkwinti says a two days Khoi and San Dialogue is a first big practical step in implementing the announcement that was made by the president during the State of the Nation Address in February regarding the re-opening of the lodgement of the land claims.

He said the National Dialogue with the Khoi-San is an epic and historical moment, one which has not been embarked upon before. “It re-affirms Government’s commitment to address the concerns and needs of the Khoi and San communities, and to social cohesion and nation building’’.

He was speaking at Kimberly in the Northern Cape at the end of a Dialogue which was attended by close to thousand Khoi and San representatives and other relevant stakeholders. Nkwinti further said that, the inputs made during this Dialogue will lay a solid foundation that will help the government in the process of the lodgement of the claims by the descendents of the Khoi and San.

On 14 February 2013, during the State of the Nation Address, His Excellency, President Jacob Zuma, announced that Government was considering the re-opening of the lodgement of land claims to those that did not lodge their claims by 31 December 1998; and secondly, the creation of exceptions to the 19 June 1913 cut-off date to accommodate claims by the descendants of the Khoi and San, claims on heritage sites, and historic landmarks.

The platform that will be created by Government for the Khoi and San to lodge their claims forms part of various initiatives by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform in reversing the negative effects of the 1913 Natives’ Land Act.

This Natives’ Land Act contributed a lot in creating triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality confronting the country today. These challenges are mainly felt by majority of South Africans particularly twelve million South Africans living in rural areas of our country.

The department has already kick-started the process which will lead to amendments of the Restitution of Land Rights Act, of 1994. These amendments will provide for the reopening of the lodgement of restitution claims, by people who missed the deadline of 31 December 1998 and it will also involve the creation of exceptions to the 1913 Natives’ Land Acts for heritage sites, historic landmarks, and opportunities for the descendants of the Khoi and San to claim.

A variety of government departments played a pivotal role in making this Dialogue a success and these departments include Traditional Affairs, Arts and Culture, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tourism, Environmental Affairs and Minerals and Energy. The representative structures of the Khoi-San, which include the National House of Traditional Leaders and the National Khoi-San Council made strong contributions that led to the success of this Dialogue.

Issued by the Ministry: Rural Development and Land Reform

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