“The public is warned against individuals who approach prospective claimants offering to assist with the lodging of land claims and charging them a fee. Since the public became aware of the possible reopening, a number of such scams have been reported in some of provinces,” said the department in a statement.
According to the department, the reopening of land claims will take place once the Restitution of Land Rights Amendment Bill is signed into law by the president.
Claims will only be accepted once the amendments and processes have taken place. Details on how to lodge claims will be published once the amendments to the Restitution Laws have been finalised.
The new deadline for land claims is 31 December 2018 and will be opened to include claims before 1913.