Benoni land claims settled

2003-11-22 13:02

Johannesburg - Six hundred and thirteen former landowners in Old Benoni Township, who were deprived of their land under apartheid, were compensated on Saturday by the Gauteng/North West Provinces Regional Land Claims Commission.

Commissioner Blessing Mphela said 600 families opted for financial compensation and received R50 000 each.

Twelve families chose alternative land while one family opted for returning to the original land.

Speaking from Daveyton Hall on the East Rand, where the handing-over ceremony was held, Mphela said: "This is a milestone for government. The compensation falls far below what the residents lost but we are happy that we reached an agreement."

He said the land claim was submitted four years ago and they had to investigate and verify if the claimants were forcefully removed from the place.

"We also had to look at how we would compensate them because the area has been developed," he said.

The claimants were settled at Dayveton and Wadville on the East Rand.

- SAPA