Question NW1195 to the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
04 May 2023 - NW1195
Montwedi, Mr Mk to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
(1)Whether, with reference to her various replies to questions asked about the finalisation of the Lower Zingcuka Land Claim, wherein she first indicated that the land claim was due for finalisation in the third quarter of the 202223 financial year, and later moved on the date to the fourth quarter of the financial year, but to date there has been no finalisation of the claim, she has found, with the benefit of hindsight, that she misled Parliament and the community of Zingcuka regarding the finalisation of the land claim; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) (a) what is the latest date by which the land claim would be finalised and (b)(i) on what date will financial compensation be paid to the community and (ii) what is the latest total monetary amount of compensation?
Reply:
1. The Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development did not mislead Parliament but was reporting the status as it was at that point in time. The Commission’s business process is complex and can be delayed by multiple factors some internal and others external. the Payment of financial compensation to claimants in phases has been identified as a risk for fraud and possible double payment and as a result, the Policy was amended to discontinue the practice. This meant that instead of paying this claim in phases village by village the Commission in the Eastern Cape had to conduct verification and screening to include all the villages so that the payment can occur at the same time. This automatically meant that there would be a delay, which was communicated to the claimant community.
(2)(a) The claim is targeted for settlement in the Third Quarter of 2023/24 financial year on condition that none of the beneficiaries who have adopted the verification interdict the process because of some disagreement of the payment to be made.
(b)(i) Once the settlement process has been finalized and verification adopted and all the payment lists have been prepared, all beneficiaries having submitted all the relevant documents. Then the Commission will commence with the payment process and the payment will be affected within 90 working days after the signing of the distribution agreement with the individual households.
(ii) The total monetary value of the claim will be based on the financial compensation policy, which allows for payment based on the of Standard Settlement Offer, which is R405 776, per house for the loss of the right in land and improvement.
END