THE SMAUSWANE SETTLEMENT CELEBRATION – ANOTHER VICTORY FOR THE REGIONAL LAND CLAIMS COMMISSION FOR FREE STATE AND NORTHERN CAPE

On Saturday, 16 July 2005 the Regional Land Claims Commission for Free State and Northern Cape will celebrate another achievement when it hands over the former Smauswane Native Reserve to its original owners. The celebration will take place at Smauswane 206 farm 63 km from Kuruman town and 235km from Kimberley.

The Smauswane community was forcefully removed from their ancestral land in 1942 and dumped at Kuruman trust farms. The removal was carried out despite the community’s protest and request to extend their stay until they had harvested their crops.

After the removal, Smauswane Native Reserve was subdivided into two equal portions (Smauswane 205 and Smauswane 206 and sold to white farmers. The Section 42D submission was made to the Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs to approve the settlement of Smauswane after lengthy negotiations. The Minister approved the Settlement of Smauswane on the 06 June 2005. Therefore on Saturday, the 16 July 2005 the Smauswane community will be handed back 2312.745ha which was originally theirs, (plus a farm adjacent to Smauswane) Portion 2 of Annex Malakgholi (Glendover) in extent 1450.9821ha which the state has bought on a willing buyer willing seller base to add to the land being returned to the community. (Total 3763.7271ha) The buying of these farms is costing the Regional Land Claims Commission (the state) R4 728 613.36.

THE STATEMENT ISSUED ON BEHALF OF

THE REGIONAL LAND CLAIMS COMMISSION FOR FREE STATE AND NORTHERN CAPE

BY

Peter Mokomele: Deputy Director

P. O. Box 2458

KIMBERLEY

8300

Tel. 053 807 5700

Fax. 053 831 6501

Cel. 082 419 5245

Email: PMMokomele@dla.gov.za