State paid out R3bn in land claims

Author: Siyabonga Mkhwanazi

The government has paid out almost R3 billion in land claims this year, despite mounting pressure for the Land Claims Commission to fast-track more claims in the coming year. 

Chief land claims commissioner Nomfundo Gobodo said in the commission’s annual report for 2014/15, tabled in Parliament last week, that the claims have eased the burden on the commission, but they have decided to prioritise old claims as well as those lodged during the new window period. 

The commission is still processing old claims, dating back to the 1990s before the first deadline of 1998. 

However, there were already more than 57 000 new claims that have been lodged since July last year when the new window opened. 

Follow the link below to read the full article: