MEC JOEMAT-PETTERSSON TO SETTLE VOSBURG LAND CLAIM

The Northern Cape MEC for Agriculture and Land Reform Tina Joemat-Pettersson’s resolute of championing the settlement of the province’s urban land claims by the end of this year will be back on track with the settlement of the Vosburg land claim tomorrow. “We will be allocating close to R400 000 of financial compensation to 15 households as part of our endeavour of promoting reconciliation through the restitution process. In tomorrow’s event, we will be thanking the claimants of Vosburg for allowing us to honour the promise of the constitution and for seeking redress for their forceful removals of 1968 that culminated in the loss of livelihoods and large scale human right violations that were perpetrated against them by the then local apartheid council,” emphasized MEC Joemat-Pettersson.

MEC Joemat-Pettersson said tomorrow’s event at the Vosburg Municipal Hall is part of the R100 million that the Regional Land Claims Commission had appropriated for the settlement of over 9 cases for the three months period of April to June 2005 that marks the provincial government’s second quarter Freedom Charter celebrations. “The Charter’s celebrations through the settlement of restitution cases are a manifestation of the freedoms enshrined in its clauses. It is quite heartening for us to celebrate the Charter knowing that the exponential settlement of all urban claims by the end of this year is very much within grasp. This will allow all spheres of government to infuse co-coordinated planning on rural claims that are much complex in their nature,“ said MEC Joemat-Pettersson.

Enquiries: Thabo Mothibi 083 255 8840 tmothibi@grand.ncape.gov.za

Background on Vosburg Land Claim

The Vosburg town was established in 1895 on a farm called Processfontein. The town is situated next to the wild Namaqualand tourist route. The Vos family first discovered the town during the Great diamond rush era.

Since not much diamond was discovered in that area, most people decided to move on whilst a few of them remained behind especially those who saw some business opportunities other than diamond digging. The Vos family was one of those families who decided to stay behind. They then bought the Processfontein and Keurfontein farms from the then Cape Governor. They farmed with livestock (cattle and sheep) and poultry (ostriches).

The Vos family became so successful in its farming activities that a number of natives staying on nearby farms were employed on this area. By year 1911 the area was so popular that the native families staying on the farm increased in number, with the native population of 109 people and the White families were 55 with the population of 209.

Because of the popularity of the area, its name was later changed to Vosburg named after its establisher Mr. Vos. In 1914 the municipality of Vosburg was established under the magisterial district of Victoria West. In 1926 the local municipality of Vosburg, under its jurisdiction proclaimed “Die Rooi Kroek” location as a native location. The proclamation was published in government notice No. 1525 of the 31^st August 1926.

In 1947, the area was subsequently depro-claimed as a Native Location since there were no Natives residing on the land but only coloureds. The Government Notice no. 1525 of 1926 was repealed in terms of the Native Urban Areas Consolidation Act of 1945 and was published on Government Gazette notice no. 1251 of 1947.

The depro-clamation was strongly opposed by the local authority of Vosburg and the Magistrate of Victoria West. This was in view of the control that could be exercised over the inhabitants thereof under the 1945 Act, especially after the introduction of liquor in the location. In 1968 the area that was occupied by the claimants (i.e. Native Location) was proclaimed as area for occupation and ownership by members of White Group in terms of Proclamation No. 185 of 1968.

This proclamation was in accordance with the provisions of the Group Areas Act of 1966 (Act 36 of 1966). Following this all Blacks were forcefully removed to an area called Die Skema. Prior to the dispossession, Blacks enjoyed beneficial occupational rights since they occupied the land for a continuous period of more than 10 years as contemplated in section 1 of the Restitution of Land Rights Act of 1994 as amended (Act 22 of 1994). Furthermore, they paid for grazing and occupation to the Vosburg Municipality.

During the removals their properties were demolished and their belongings scattered everywhere. Like most of the dispossession in South Africa at that time, people in Vosburg suffered physically and emotionally during removals. Claimants allege that they were removed from Die Rooikroek, where they had spacious houses to stay in, to settle in smaller houses at the location provided by the municipality, called Die Skema. This ripped families apart, as they could no longer stay as a unit in one house or yard as they used to. The extended family members (uncle and aunts) had to fend for themselves elsewhere. The family culture, beliefs and norms were seriously hampered during these painful removals. The area under claim is currently registered in the name of the Vosburg Municipality and has some few built-up structures such as schools, houses and partly vacant land.

Enquiries: Refilwe Phage 082 577 5738 riphage@dla.gov.za