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NEWS<br />
THE Minister of Agriculture and Land<br />
Affairs, Lulama Xingwana, handed<br />
back 5113 hectares of land to the<br />
Makgoba Community at a total cost of<br />
R104 million to the state .<br />
The handing-over ceremony was<br />
held at Magoebaskloof last Saturday.<br />
The land, restored to the Makgoba<br />
community, comprises of both private<br />
and state owned pr<strong>op</strong>erties currently<br />
being used for a range of profitable<br />
activities, such as commercial timber<br />
production, aquaculture, tourism and<br />
leisure activities, as well as commercial<br />
agriculture, which include<br />
the production of mangoes, avocados<br />
and macadamia nuts.<br />
Speaking during the handing-over<br />
ceremony, Minister Xingwana said<br />
the government has approved devel<strong>op</strong>ment<br />
grants of R26 million for<br />
devel<strong>op</strong>ment of the land.<br />
She said settlement of the Makgoba<br />
claim will benefit<br />
603 households involvingapproximately<br />
1087 individuals.<br />
"Land is the basis<br />
of power and wealth,<br />
freedom and<br />
prosperity. The restitution<br />
of land to the<br />
pe<strong>op</strong>le is not only a<br />
symbolic gesture, it<br />
is a deliberate act of<br />
LETABA HERALD - Vrydag 10 April 2009<br />
MINISTER of Agriculture and Land Affairs, Lulama Xingwana, Premier, Cassel Mathale, and Mayor of Tzaneen,<br />
Councillor OJ Mushwana, during a ceremony held to hand back land to the Makgoba Community.<br />
Makgoba’s celebrate<br />
transferring assets into the hands of<br />
the community," she added.<br />
She urged the Makgoba community<br />
to use the land to ensure sustainable<br />
food security and improved livelihood<br />
for the pe<strong>op</strong>le in the area.<br />
"I want to advise you that everywhere<br />
there are disputes and internal<br />
fighting, there can be no productivi<br />
t y.<br />
She said the Department of Agriculture,<br />
Department of Water Affairs<br />
and Forestry, Greater Tzaneen Municipality,<br />
as well as Trade and Investment<br />
Limp<strong>op</strong>o have been brought<br />
on board to assist the beneficiaries<br />
with business advisory services, including<br />
assistance with access to markets.<br />
"As government we are encouraging<br />
all those who are in a position to<br />
provide assistance, to come forward<br />
and work together in ensuring that<br />
land is used <strong>op</strong>timally," she said<br />
The first phase of the settlement was<br />
completed in 2005, when four<br />
state-owned pr<strong>op</strong>erties, combined to<br />
create Sapekoe, was handed over to<br />
the Makgoba community. The four<br />
pr<strong>op</strong>erties measures 768 ha in total.<br />
The land borders interesting places,<br />
such as the Modjadji area famously<br />
known for its rain queen Modjadji.<br />
The Makgoba claim was lodged by<br />
Kgoshi Mok<strong>op</strong>a Garibaldi Makgoba<br />
and Frederick Tsheoga on behalf of<br />
the Makgoba community, and the two<br />
claims were consolidated into one.<br />
The Makgoba pe<strong>op</strong>le were gradually<br />
removed from their ancestral land<br />
between 1924 and 1974. They settled<br />
in various areas such as Hammanskraal,<br />
Malepisi around Lebowakgomo,<br />
Ga Modjadji, Ga Mathabata,<br />
Ga Molepo, Makweng, as well<br />
as other areas within the province.<br />
GLM budget:<br />
Only 35% for<br />
infrastructure<br />
The Greater <strong>Letaba</strong> Municipality<br />
is planning to spend 35% of its<br />
total draft budget of R145 282<br />
106 on infrastructure<br />
devel<strong>op</strong>ment projects in the<br />
coming year.<br />
During the special council<br />
meeting in Sekgosese last week,<br />
the Mayor of Greater <strong>Letaba</strong>,<br />
Councillor Joshua Matlou ,said<br />
the municipality plans to spend<br />
a large part of the R47 433 118 of<br />
its next capital budget on street<br />
lights in crime hot spots.<br />
Matlou said street lights will go<br />
up in Lebaka, Phaphadi,<br />
Mamphakgathi and Sekgosese<br />
villages, and more street lights<br />
will be installed in GaKgapane<br />
township.<br />
He added that, before the end of<br />
this financial year, two Apollo<br />
street lights will be installed at<br />
Maphalle village, one at<br />
Mokgoba settlement, and<br />
another one at Ga-Kgapane<br />
extension 7 in an effort to reduce<br />
crime.<br />
"Our aim is to create a safer<br />
living environment for the<br />
communities for Greater<br />
<strong>Letaba</strong>," he said.<br />
PAGE 7<br />
The Mayor of Greater <strong>Letaba</strong>,<br />
Councillor Joshua Matlou.<br />
He said the municipality has<br />
received R10 million from the<br />
Department of Minerals and<br />
Energy for electrification projects<br />
in Rotterdam, Roerfontein,<br />
Maphalle, Lemondek<strong>op</strong>, Itieleng<br />
and Sephokhubje.<br />
He further said the municipality<br />
has recently completed a R4<br />
million electrification project at<br />
Raphahlelo, Sekg<strong>op</strong>o,<br />
Senwamokg<strong>op</strong>e, Ga-Kgapane<br />
and Modjadji valley.<br />
The budget will be tabled for<br />
ad<strong>op</strong>tion after consultation with<br />
all the stakeholders.
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