The civil rights organisation AfriForum has launched the process for a formal application to force the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform to make available further and more comprehensive details regarding the land claim in Centurion and surrounding areas after this Department failed to react to various previous requests from AfriForum regarding this matter.
This follows after a land claim was published in the Government Gazette in June 2018 that involves approximately 4 000 ha of immovable property and nearly 2 000 families.
Should the Department still fail to make available the requested information within 90 days, the court application will be signed and filed, while a date on the court roll will also be obtained.
AfriForum and the interest group Rethro require the outstanding information to send comprehensive presentations to the authorities to properly oppose the land claim.
“It is a frustration for the affected community that the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform is delaying the provision of information that AfriForum requested earlier this year. It is after all in everyone’s interest that this matter is concluded as quickly as possible,” says Ian Cameron, AfriForum’s Head of Community Safety.
“If AfriForum and Rethro are in possession of the comprehensive information regarding the version of the claimants, the process can go ahead to disprove suchlike version by means of presenting evidence that is supported by expert reports,” says Marnus Kamfer, AfriForum’s Legal and Risk Manager for Community Safety.