The wait is finally over for Evans Hlongwane, also known as Chief Madonsi, representing the Madonsi community, who were removed from their land in Skukuza, in the Kruger National Park.

The Madonsi community were forcibly removed in 1926 by the then apartheid government.

Chief Madonsi told SAnews that they lodged their land claim in 1998 and were excited about the compensation they were receiving from government today.

“We are so happy that our government felt a need to compensate us for our land that was taken from us by the apartheid government,” he said.

President Jacob Zuma on Saturday congratulated the successful claimants of Skukuza land in Mpumalanga and Limpopo.

He said today’s handing over of monetary compensation to the claimants contributes to the reversal of the apartheid legacy.

In total, six communities in Mpumalanga and Limpopo received monetary compensation for their land that they were forcibly removed from by the apartheid government.

The communities, three from Limpopo and another three from Mpumalanga, were all removed from their land in the Skukuza area in the Kruger National Park.

A total of 135 households today received a total of R110 000 as compensation for their land.

Although most of the claimants have passed on, the remaining family members or their grandchildren received the compensation on behalf of them.

The Madonsi community said they are now residing in the Malamulele area, in Giyani.

Another beneficiary was Chief Ndindane or John Chauke representing the Ndindane community, who were also removed from Skukuza situated in the Kruger National Park area in 1921.

Like the Madonsi community, the Ndindane community lodged their land claim in 1998.

“We are so excited that our government has finally compensated us for our land,” said Chief Ndindane.

Perry Sambo, a representative of the Mhlanganisweni community in Mpumalanga told SAnews that although money is not of the same value as their land, they are grateful for the compensation.

“We are happy with the compensation that our government has given to us today,” he said.

The affected communities came in their numbers to witness the handing over of the compensation.

More than 10 busses ferried the affected communities from different areas where they are currently residing to witness the hand-over of compensation at the Kruger National Park.

President Zuma said the claims form part of the various land claims lodged by the different communities from Limpopo and Mpumalanga in respect of the Park.

“In settling these claims, we are giving effect to a Cabinet decision taken in 2008 regarding equitable redress as the only option for settling all land claims on the Kruger National Park.

“The Cabinet decision took into consideration the status of the Kruger National Park as a national and international asset, which needed to be conserved for the benefit of the whole nation,” he said.

According to President Zuma, the decision paved a way for engagement with the affected communities, culminating in the resolution to settle the claims in two phases.

President Zuma said other outstanding claims are still being attended to.

The outstanding land claims are from the Makahane-Marithenga community, the Makhuva Mathebula community and the Baphalaborwa communities comprising the Baphalaborwa ba Mashishimale, Baphalaborwa ba Maseke, Baphalaborwa ba Selwane and Baphalaborwa ba Makhushane.

The President explained that the Mpumalanga and Limpopo claim settlements took into account the significance of the Kruger National Park as a home to an unparalleled diversity of wildlife and embraced an effort to save the National Monument for generations to come.

“It was therefore agreed that the settlement model will be one that takes the very important role of conservation into account,” he said.

According to the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights, a total of 17 land claims were lodged on the Kruger National Park by the cut-off date of 31 December 1998.

A total of R84 million has been awarded to the six communities as part of phase one of the settlement of their claims.

The amount will be shared among the Madonsi community, the Ndindane community and the Muyexe community, among others.

Guest attending the event were treated to traditional music, traditional dance and choral music.

According to the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights, more than 80 percent of land claims have been settled so far.

In June 2014, government reopened the lodgement of land claims for those communities/people who missed the initial deadline.

Government has set a new deadline for land claims to 30 June 2019 for people who were removed from their land after 19 June 1913.

As at 31 March 2016, the Commission had settled a total of 78 750 land claims resulting in transfer of 3.3 hectares of land to beneficiaries.

The event was attended by environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa, Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza and national and provincial senior government officials, among others.

SOURCE: Government Communication and information System