AE01229P
Conclusionary research report on various competing land claims in the Hazyview-Kiepersol area Mbombela Local Municipality,
Ehlanzeni District, Mpumalanga Province
Summary
Archaetnos cc was appointed by the Office of the State Attorney in Pretoria, on behalf of the Regional Land Claim Commission for the Mpumalanga Province, to conduct a thorough investigative research process related to land claims in the Kiepersol/Hazyview area, located in the Mbombela Local Municipality of the Mpumalanga Province. Various claims, some competing or overlapping, has been lodged on various farms in the area. All relevant records pertaining to these claims as well as the history and archaeology of the area had to be scrutinized, while in loco inspections of sites indicated by the claimants as evidence of their residence in, use of and link to the claimed properties also had to be undertaken.
A first report (AE 1198) contained the results of a summary of information contained in files and other documents (such as Claim Forms and Acceptance Reports) provided by the State Attorney’s Office and the Mpumalanga RLCC. Two subsequent reports (AE11125 & AE01205P) contained the results of the in loco site inspections carried out in conjunction with the claimants and some of the land owners, the claimants’ legal counsel and members of the RLCC during November 2011 and January 2012.
A final Research Report (AE01208P) aimed at providing a summary of all information recorded, as well as coming to a conclusion regarding the validity of the claims as far as is possible. Archaetnos also obtained the services of Past Matters, a Historical & Heritage Research Consultancy, to conduct detailed archival, deeds and background historical research on the area and the farms claimed. The results of their research were also contained in the above report.
During a meeting with the RLLC-Mpumalanga office in April it was indicated that more conclusive evidence and remarks on the various claims were required. It was requested that the following aspects be dealt with in more detail in a Final Report:
1. The types of rights in land that were lost by the claimants at the time of dispossession
2. The exact portions of land that are being affected by the claims
3. How many families (per claimant group) were present/involved
4. Whether the claims should be dealt with as Community or Individual/Family claims
5. The places of origin of the claimants
6. The validity of the Mdluli claim
This report therefore deals with the above mentioned aspects, and final conclusions and recommendations are made at the end of this document.
Report by
A.J. Pelser - Accredited member of ASAPA
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