The Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane together with the North West Premier, Prof Job Mokgoro, yesterday (19th December 2018) launched the first time ever Mebala ya Rona Biodiversity Transformation platform and the Bahurutshe Nietverdeint Game Farming Project as a post-restitution support project in Zeerust, North West.
The Bahurutshe Nietverdeint Game Farming project is a post-restitution project in the Nietverdeint area of Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality.
“I am elated to hand over this land to the Bahurutshe community. This dispossession was very painful but today we are here celebrating the return of the land. Working together we know that we can do more. This is an early Christmas for you, said the excited minister.
“We are here to accelerate economic growth for our people. What makes me happy is that the community has already formed partnership with the previous land owner and are working together to train the community. We also need to bring in experts who are knowledgeable to take care of the animal in the farm because this lodge has a potential to be a tourist destination for domestic and international guest, said the Minister.
We hold land in trust for the future generation. CPA needs to take care of the land and stop fighting amongst each other. Let this land bring dignity and economic opportunity to you. The work of the CPA is not to wait for the next election but to find economic opportunity for the community. You are here to find solutions for the community” said the Minister.
The game animals include: Waterbuck, Blue Wildebeest, Gemsbuck, Red Hartebeest, Eland, Zebra, Giraffe, Mountain Reedbuck, Kudu, Impala, Common Reedbuck, Blesbuck, Nyala, Sable breeding herd, Ostrich, Bushbuck, Golden Wildebeest, Steenbuck, Duiker, Split Golden Wildebeest, Tsessebe, Buffalo hunting, Buffalo breeding herd, Warthogs and Lions. Moreover about 167 mixed breed cattle are also available on the farm.
Over time, a number of additional Biodiversity Economy Projects were identified for support through the Mebala ya Rona Advisory Committee and are selected further for launching in this event as part of the Biodiversity Economy Stimulus package, ranging from hunting, fodder production, communal game farming, bioprospecting and eco-tourism entities.
The North West Premier, Prof Job Mokgoro, also attended the launch. Addressing the delegates the Premier said as the Province we are happy that the land is brought back to our community. “We are happy that the land is brought back to the rightful owners” said the Premier.
The four Bahurutshe Communities; Bahurutshe Boo Moiloa, Bahurutshe Boo Sebogodi, Bahurutshe Boo Moiloa of Leeuwfontein as well as Tshwaane Communities lodged a land claim with the Office of the Regional Land Claims Commissioner before 31 December 1998.
The four Bahurutshe Communities are found in the Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality, situated in Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality of the North West Province. These communities will contribute significantly in one of the only three Biodiversity Economy Nodes of the Province, namely the Pilanesberg/ Madikwe Heritage Park Biodiversity Economy Node.
All four claims were processed to the tune of R 455 million worth of land purchase and about R 57 million in grants approved, making available 9266 Hectares of Conservation worthy or Critical Biodiversity area in the Biodiversity Economy for Transformation purposes.
In December 2016, the department of rural development and land reform handed over five title deeds to five Bahurutshe communities in one of the biggest land claims that were settled at Motsane Game Farm.
The occasion marked the handover of more than fifty four thousand (54 280) hectares of land which included a game farm that has been restored to the Bahurutshe communities.
Like many African Communities in South Africa the Bahurutshe lost their rights in land and were reduced to farm workers and labour tenants on their properties which were allocated to white farmers. The Bahurutshe Kingdom stretched as far as Rustenburg and Pilanesburg. They lived between the Ngotoane, Madikwe and Crocodile rivers in what is now the North West Province.
The Commission on Restitution of Land Rights purchased the properties on behalf of the Bahurutshe for more than four hundred and fifty five million rand benefitting a total of 1878 households.
A partnership has since been formed with the North West Department of Rural, Environmental and agriculture through its Mebala Ya Rona Initiative which is part of Operation Phakisa. The Initiative has been selected as the Biodiversity Economy Stimulus Package ranging from hunting, Fodder production, communal game farming, and bioprospecting and eco-tourism entities.
Issued by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform Enquiries: Ms Phuti Mabelebele –Acting Chief Director: Strategic Communications( Spokesperson) | Tel: +27 12 312 8909 | Cell: 076 402 7521| Phuti.Mabelebele@drdlr.gov.za I www.drdlr.gov.za
