NewsletterReleased - 29 April 2025Dear Member Payment of accountsFirstly, very many thanks to those of you who have brought your accounts up-to-date and those who have made substantial payments. However, there are still many accounts unpaid or only partially paid and unfortunately several members who undertook to pay their arrears have not done so. We are still way off our target to adequately fund the upcoming Court action and we need a much better response from many members whose accounts are still in arrears. At a recent SGM it was shown how delayed payments by a large number of members over the years had already cost us well over two million Rand in "lost" interest. The longer these accounts stay in arrears, the more we lose in interest and the more that members in good standing have to "carry" this cost, which ultimately results in calls for further subscriptions for all of us. We can confirm that the 50 individuals on the attached termination list have each received an email warning about the impending action. The LCAG is committed to retaining all members to minimise costs per member; however, per the resolution made on January 18, 2025, it has been decided that we can no longer maintain accounts in arrears. We urge all members still in arrears to settle their outstanding accounts and finalise any administrative paperwork required to regain good standing. If you have received the aforementioned correspondence and wish to remain a part of LCAG, please contact us very urgently at accounts@broederstroomlandclaim.co.za to discuss a solution for retaining your membership. All subscriptions must be settled by May 31, 2025, in accordance with the member resolution dated February 22, 2025. Unrepresented propertiesThe Committee has also published a list of those properties within the Claim not represented by LCAG so that landowners may recognise the potential risk to their own properties by proximity to unrepresented properties if the Claim is resolved in our favour. However, we are bound by the provisions of the Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Act and cannot release personal information. Accordingly, the attached list designates the farm and property title only as we cannot tie this to ownership information. Work of the Land Claim CommissionerThe Land Claims Commissioner's work primarily focuses on administering and implementing the process of land restitution, ensuring that people who have been unfairly dispossessed of land have their rights restored, according to the South African Restitution of Land Rights Act, 1994 [1, 3]. This involves investigating claims, providing support services, and managing the process of restoring land rights or offering alternative forms of redress. The Regional Land Claim Commissioner is required to serve the owners of unrepresented properties, with a package of documentation, and explain the claim process and their rights to them. There are some 98 out of 600 properties in the greater Claim and a further approximately 400 out of 650 subdivisions in the Estate D'Afrique development unrepresented properties by LCAG. Many of these properties are without any contact information on record. This may explain the complicated and long-winded process which may never be completed 100%. However, before the court hearing can commence, the Judge must be convinced that "best efforts" have been made to contact these owners. It is, therefore, in the interests of the Committee and Members that this process be completed as soon as possible and that the LCAG and members assist the Commissioner in any way possible. The Committee has already declared its support, should the Commissioner apply to notify non-represented property owners through Press advertisements, and is now assisting the Commissioner to organise two public meeting sessions in the area with a view to contacting non-represented landowners. The dates and locations of these meetings will be the 9th May at Broederstroom Shopping Centre, and 10th of May will be hosted at Estate D'Afrique's entrance between 10:00 and 15:00. There is evidence that, in spite of having a list of represented properties, the Commissioner has visited some represented farms and has been rebuffed by owners. We suggest in these cases just politely advise the Commissioner that your property is represented by the 26778 Land Claim Committee. If he asks for information regarding contact or directions to other properties on his list, please provide whatever information/assistance you can. Regards Pedro Carvalho 19 March 2025 Our bank account details __________________o0o_________________
The opinions expressed in this newsletter are my own and do not necessarily represent those of the Committee or of the appointed legal team.
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