District Six claimants sue Minister over land restitution
After a breakdown in negotiations, more than 70 District Six land claimants are hauling the Minister for Rural Development and Land Reform, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, to court for failing to account for them in a restitution process plan. According to a Mail & Guardian Online report, the Land Claims Commission revealed to the District Six Working Committee that 969 claimants had not been included in plans for restitution.
Last year, Norton Rose began representing the District Six Working Committee pro bono. From there, discussions began with the Land Reform Department to find out government’s timeframe and planning for restitution in the area near the Cape Town city centre.
But once it was revealed that the Land Reform Minister had not planned for all claimants, court papers were processed and filed on 3 April at the Land Claims Court in Randburg, Johannesburg.
The applicants – who have also cited the Land Claims Commissioner, the City of Cape Town, and Premier Helen Zille as respondents – are seeking a declaratory order from the court that government has failed in its constitutional duty. The report sys if the matter goes unopposed, it is set to be presented in court on 28 May.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
