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De Lille to transfer Constantia land to Land Claims Commission

News, VOC News

February 8, 2017

It was an emotional day for eight claimants of the Ladies Mile land restitution in Constantia, who may be one step closer to returning home. Addressing land claimants on the historic site on Wednesday, Mayor Patricia De Lille announced that she would be transferring ownership of the land to the Regional Land Claims Commission to speed up the land claims process.These families were evicted off the land after Constantia was declared a white area in 1961 in terms of the Group Areas Act.

Families observed a moment of silence for deceased claimants who did not live to see their dream of returning to family’s land materialize.

These families were evicted off the land after Constantia was declared a white area in 1961 in terms of the Group Areas Act. This is a second generation claim as some of the original claimants have sadly already passed away. The oldest living beneficiary will be 90 years old this year.

Claimants tearfully reflected on the emotionally challenging quest to reclaim the legacy of their parents.

This is a second generation claim as some of the original claimants have sadly already passed away. The oldest living beneficiary will be 90 years old this year.

Mayor Patricia De Lille affirmed that by the end of August, 2017, the claimants land will be cleared of the existing waste facility.

Claimants with a symbolic plaque highlighting the agreement

Mayor De Lille brought the representatives of the seven families together with the Regional Land Claims Commission so that the latter could explain the holdups as well as the process going forward. The claim is for a 6-hectare parcel of land worth approximately R120 million.