Concourt to rule on chief vs community row over land

The Constitutional Court is to make a ruling on the rightful custodian in the ongoing battle between a North West chief and members of the Bakgatla-Ba-Kgafela communal property association.

The land‚ that includes parts of the Pilanesberg National Park‚ was restored to the Bakgatla-Ba-Kgafela in 2006 after a successful land claim‚ the court heard on Thursday.

A dispute over the administration of the land followed with residents preferring a democratically elected association and the tribal authority wanting the land to be held in trust. In 2007‚ the land was transferred to the provisional association. In 2012 trouble arose when the association heard that Pilane had authorised that a shopping centre be built.

At the heart of the matter is the “legality” of the communal property association.

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