City and Regional Land Claims Commission Express Concern about Ndabeni Land Claim Allegations

The Regional Land Claims Commission (RLCC) and the City of Cape Town have expressed concern about allegations that people purporting to be trustees of the Ndabeni Communal Property Trust are seeking to sell Trust land at Wingfield near the N1 highway.

Ndabeni was established in 1901 by the Cape Town City Council to accommodate those infected during an outbreak of bubonic plague. By the twenties, Ndabeni had become an industrial area and, by 1933 its black residents had been forced to move to Langa.

In 2001 agreement was reached that 54.8 hectares of government-owned land at the Wingfield military base would be handed over to those displaced by forced removals and their descendents.

The City of Cape Town spent R29 million to improve the bulk stormwater, sewer and electrical infrastructure for the area.

"The Ndabeni Restitution Claimants Land is a Government donation and project and it cannot be sold without the consent of the State", said Pogiso Molapo, the City's Manager: Land Restitution.

The Regional Land Claims Commissioner and some of the claimants have asked the Scorpions and the SAPS to investigate allegations of corruption.

The RLCC is to seek the intervention of the High Court in Cape Town to prevent people from purporting to be trustees and from selling land that is not theirs to sell.

A General Meeting of all claimants will be convened soon by the RLCC and the City to explain this situation, to elect more Trustees and to give feedback on the development of the land.

Issued by:
Communication
City of Cape Town
Tel: 021 400 2201

Media Queries:
Rlcc: Sam Molepo
Tel: 021 426 2030
Cell: 082 419 5316)

City: Pogiso Molapo
Tel: 021 400 2422
Cell: 084 308 0495