They were forcefully removed 77 years ago from their land in terms of the Native Land Act under the apartheid government. Last Saturday, there was a joyous celebration when the Mamphodo, Mushasha and Begwa communities were officially restored to their land by the Regional Land Claims Commissioner of Limpopo.

The event was held at the farm Melkhoutkopjes next to Manavhela Ben Lavin Game Reserve, under the Makhado Municipality. After the dispossession, the land was divided into 14 portions, while the community was scattered to the Sinthumule/Kutama, Botlokwa, Mpofu, Matshavhawe, Nzhelele, Giyani and Nthabalala settlements.

According to Ms Nana Radebe from the communication unit at the Regional Land Claims Commissioner of Limpopo, her office established that the land under claim (Melkhoutkopjes) was available for restoration as it is currently used for game farming, grazing, crossbreeding of cows and growing of vegetables.

Radebe further indicated that while the Mamphodo, Mushasha and Begwa land claim was gazetted, negotiations were also held with nine landowners. She said that only seven landowners accepted the offers made after the land was valued.

According to Radebe, the Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs, Ms Lulama Xingwana gave approval for 14 portions to be purchased in total extent being 2971,3362 hectares of the farm.

She further said that the regional land claims commissioner of Limpopo will facilitate strategic partnerships between the claimants and potential investors in order to ensure sustainability and transfer of skills to the claimants. “The commission and the claimants are currently in discussions with the provincial Department of Africulture to find the best and most sustainable land-use options for the land. As the commission, we will conduct skills and needs assessments amongst the community and facilitate partnerships between claimants and the provincial Department of Agriculture in order to ensure training and capacity building,” she said.

Radebe further claimed that Limpopo Tourism and Parks will be mobilised to assist the claimants in operating the game farming enterprise currently occurring on the land.

The chairperson of the Mamphodo, Mushasha and Begwa Communal Property, Mr Edward Thwalima Mamphodo, said that they are excited to be restored to their ancestral land. “We are going to utilise one portion for a game reserve, another portion for cattle farming and planting of different crops. We are not going to evict the white farmers currently still on the land because we believe that they will offer us crucial advice in terms of developing the land. We want to avoid the failures of other land claimants, who after being restored to their land failed to develop the land,” he said.

Mamphodo said that the committee will never tolerate poaching and invasion of the farm.