Chief land claims commissioner Thozi Gwanya handed over the land to the Ngomane people of Hhoyi, the Ngomane of KwaLugedlane, the Ngomane of Siboshwa as well the Mkhatshwa community. Chairperson of the Mkhatshwa community, Helen Mkhatshwa, said, “Our land is currently a citrus and sugarcane farm, so we plan to ask the farmer to stay on and help us keep the land productive.”
Samson Siwela, chairperson of the KwaLugedlane community, said they have not decided what to do with their portion of the claim yet. “We will have meetings with all the relevant stakeholders to decide on this,” he said. In 2005, the KwaLugedlane community was given an initial 3 852ha of Ludwichlust Farm that borders the N4 highway and part of the Kruger National Park along the Crocodile River. The land had a value of R24 million. They decided to enter into a partnership with Johannesburg-based developers Hanrob CC and Associates to develop a five-star ecotourism destination valued at R150 million. The development will include two hotels, a golf course, 30 corporate lodges, a school, clinic, community complex and 400 residential houses.
After completion, the project is expected to create 1 020 permanent jobs and have an annual turnover of R10 million.
Meanwhile, Gwanya said that during June alone, land worth more than R14 billion was handed over to 14 260 households in South Africa. – African Eye News Service
