Claimants still waiting for restitution
2009-01-08
“WE have been waiting for ten years for our money - and the land claimants are dying,” says Isaac Mnweba, spokesperson for the Sakkieskamp land claimants. About 1000 people who were forcibly removed from a squatter camp in Wellington, known as Sakkieskamp, have submitted claims for compensation. Most of the people are waiting for cash payments, while some hope to have land given to them near Klapmuts. According to Mnweba, they have repeatedly contacted the Western Cape land claims office, who just keep on making empty promises, but do not honour the dates they mentioned. “Most people have to travel from the Eastern Cape to collect their vouchers - they spend their last pennies, only to be told that there will be no payment and that they must return home and will be informed about the next date. “We need to know what problems the commission is facing, that it cannot resolve the claim. “Our old people are dying every day, waiting to benefit from their rightful claims. We are starting to lose confidence in the officials, as the restitution was to have been completed by December 2008.” According to the annual report of the Chief Land Claims Commissioner it was stated that there are often problems with claimants’ lack of documentation supporting the claims, their identity documents, death and marriage certificates and affidavits. Family disputes over who is entitled to lodge a claim also prolong the period taken in dealing with each claim. “We are kept waiting in suspense. Now we have heard the process may be extended to 2011. Then at least we should be informed of this,” says Mnweba.
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