1. Commission on Restitution of Land Rights
Briefing to the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture and Land Affairs on the Annual Report for the year ended on
31 March 2006
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2. FOREWORD BY THE CHIEF LAND CLAIMS COMMISSIONER
We entered the year under review with a clear mandate to prioritise sustainable settlement of all outstanding claims, which was underlined in the Land Summit held in July 2005.
We have focused on the implementation of key strategies, which enable us to fast-track the settlement of claims such as the batching and grouping of those with similar circumstances of dispossession, sequencing and targeted verification.
We dedicate this report to those who died in this period where we were hard at work reversing the effects of racial dispossession.
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3. OUR PERFORMANCE
Our expenditure has increased from R1,18 billion last year to R1,8 billion over the past financial year.
Our budget for the year was R2,7 billion and thus an under-expenditure of almost R900 million. However commitments approved by the Minister but not shown as an expenditure yet totals R2,05 million.
The Belgian Government approved R50 million for a project called “Speeding up the Restitution Process”.
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4. OUR PERFORMANCE (Cont)
This project involves the fast-tracking of claimant verification as well as preparatory work for post-settlement support.
The total number of claims settled as at 31 March 2006 was 71, 645 out of the 79, 696 lodged claims by 31 December 1998.
The Government, through National Treasury, demonstrated its commitment to Restitution with its budget allocation of R2,2 billion to settle claims in this financial year.
TODAY IS BETTER THAN YESTERDAY, TOGETHER WE WILL MAKE TOMORROW MUCH BETTER THAN TODAY

5. OUR PERFORMANCE (Cont)
Business Process Perspective:
Our focus during the year was on shortening the project cycle (without skipping any of the necessary steps) in order to settle as many claims as possible.
We have agreed with both Agri SA and Tau SA that our cooperation with them must be reduced in a memorandum of agreement (MOA( and thus a commitment that their member, the current land owners will support the Restitution process.
Expropriation remains an option where negotiations do not yield the desired results. However, as we started to implement expropriation, there is more willingness from the land owner to negotiate.
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6. OUR PERFORMANCE (Cont)
The need to reflect an equitable balance between the public interest and the interest of those affected by the expropriation is important in this process.
The resettlement of claimants to their restored land, some no less than 200km away from their current place of residence, is a challenge.
Corporate Governance Perspective:
The Commission tabled this Report as contemplated in terms of Section 21 of the Restitution of Land Rights Act, 22 of 1994 as amended.
We have held four statutory meetings as contemplated in terms of Section 5 of the said Act, where the focus were largely on:
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7. OUR PERFORMANCE (Cont)
Progress review on settling outstanding claims
Quality assurance and risk management.
Sharing provincial experiences in dealing with peculiar Restitution cases.
Review of cases in the Land Claims Court.
Post-settlement support and strategic partnerships for sustainable developments.
We have used these meetings as a vehicle to keep the public abreast of developments in the Restitution process as contemplated in Section 6(1)(c) of the Act.
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8. OUR PERFORMANCE (Cont)
Learning and Growth Perspective:
Teambuilding exercises to break from the hectic schedule, long working hours and work over weekends.
Filling of the vacant posts and conversion of contract posts to permanent employment to ensure that experienced staff is retained.
The Commission formulated plans and engaged stakeholders to take part and assist in the development facilitation to ensure sustainability.
The Commission continues to engage with Local Government, the LandBank, NDA, DBSA and relevant Government Departments.
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9. OUR PERFORMANCE (Cont)
International Interest:
The Land Summit ensured that international delegates also participated and shared their experiences.
International media are thus kept updated with the Restitution process.
Delegations from countries such as Palestine, Mauritius, Zambia, Angola visited the Commission to observe Restitution and learn from it.
Restitution continues to bring hope to millions of South Africans who, for centuries suffered the indignity of racial land dispossession.
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10. REGIONAL LAND CLAIMS COMMISSION, EASTERN CAPE
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11. REGIONAL LAND CLAIMS COMMISSION, FREE STATE AND NORTHERN CAPE
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12. REGIONAL LAND CLAIMS COMMISSION, GAUTENG AND NORTH WEST
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13. REGIONAL LAND CLAIMS COMMISSION, KWAZULU-NATAL
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14. REGIONAL LAND CLAIMS COMMISSION, LIMPOPO
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15. REGIONAL LAND CLAIMS COMMISSION, MPUMALANGA
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16. REGIONAL LAND CLAIMS COMMISSION, WESTERN CAPE
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17. CASES SETTLED BY THE LAND CLAIMS COURT
The number of cases referred to the Land Claims Court during the period March to December 2005 was on average between 2 and 3 cases per month.
In January 2006 there was a dramatic increase with the majority of cases referred to the court emanating from Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
For the period 31 March 2005 to 31 March 2006, 29 cases were heard in Court, 4 settled and 25 current cases.
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18. PROGRESS ON THE SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS 31 March 2006
PROVINCE
CLAIMS
HHs
BENEFICIARIES Ha
LAND COST
FIN COMP
Eastern Cape
16040
42178
157494
56686
211,541,427.00
585,992,927.45
Free State
2120
3956
24107
44464
9,845,559.13
46,857,765.81
Gauteng
13133
12981
58365
3555
62,537,367.00
620,323,105.00
KwaZulu-Natal
13813
39702
238509
339200
726,853,055.36
808,303,863.85
Mpumalanga
2075
29366
151228
100122
502,957,363.50
67,021,317.00
North West
3441
15794
87019
79271
127,103,005.52
162,520,410.00
Northern Cape
3518
7525
45971
237398
74,482,215.36
119,024,664.84
Limpopo
2717
27480
148344
203355
696,160,848.42
51,688,765.73
Western Cape
14788
17685
92514
3101
8,096,187.00
509,099,166.47
TOTAL
71645
196667
2,419,577,028.29
2,970,831,986.15
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19. PROJECTED SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS FROM April 2006 to March 2006
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