Land claims on over half of Mondi Group, Komatiland Forests and Sappi land don’t have them worried since they plan to either hire the land back from the claimants or train and empower them in order for the companies to buy their produce. The amount of Mondi’s land under claim keeps changing, but is currently estimated at 48% of the company’s 357 000ha in Mpumalanga, KZN and Limpopo. Mondi plans to lease the land back from the successful claimant communities so that production won’t be affected negatively.
Sappi faces 26 claims in Mpumalanga and 32 in KZN – about 19% of its 540 000ha of forestry plantations. The company, the only forestry products group listed on the JSE, is one of the largest landowners in SA and recognises the importance of a secure fibre supply, especially after the devastating fires of 2007 and the current construction boom in SA. Group head of corporate affairs André Oberholzer said that if the claims are successful, Sappi is prepared to lease the land from the communities as well as train them in timber production. “The quicker the claims are validated the better, because then Sappi can set up partnerships with the claimant communities,” said Oberholzer. “This is not a pipe dream for the communities as Sappi is an existing business and is prepared to invest in the people who take over the land. This helps government with its restitution targets as well as Sappi in its business interests.”
Ecotourism and forestry company Komatiland Forests, which leases its land from government, is dealing with claims on 75% of its 125 000ha in the three provinces. According to spokesperson Leslie Mudimeli, the company is negotiating with the Land Claims Commission and the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry to find ways of benefiting both the company and the claimants through forestry enterprise development and social programmes. “Nothing has been finalised yet as we are still investigating what the communities want to do with the land,” said Mudimeli. – David Steynberg
