Land claim investigation call

Following the arrest of provincial land claims commissioner Mashile Mokono in Polokwane in December, Limpopo farmer’s unions have asked that land claims be investigated in the province. The Scorpions arrested in December on charges of perjury and fraud involving R2,5 million, relating to a land claim by the Dwarsloop community in which it’s alleged the number of claimants had been inflated. Four accomplices were also arrested.was released on R7 000 bail. Investigations into his activities apparently started in 2003. Calling for the reinvestigation, TAU North president Dries Joubert alleged the number of claims in the Soekmekaar area had also been inflated. Deputy chair of Agri SA Dr Theo de Jager warned Mokono’s arrest would slow the finalisation of claims, adding he knew of other claims in where claimant numbers had been inflated. Mokono and his co-accused will appear in the Nelspruit regional court on 9 January. – Staff reporter