30.05.2026
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Land restitution is fulfilment of constitutional promise: Ramaphosa

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  • President Cyril Ramaphosa hands over title deeds to beneficiary communities during the Presidential Title Deeds Handover Ceremony in Setlagole, North West.

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the restitution of land rights to previously dispossessed traditional communities is a fulfilment of a constitutional promise that never again will someone’s land be taken away based on the colour of their skin, background or location.

Speaking during the presidential title deeds handover ceremony in Setlagole in North West, President Ramaphosa hailed the handover for the restitution of thousands of hectares to three Communal Property Associations.

They represent the  Barolong Ba Ga Phoi, Barolong Ba Ga Rapulana and Barolong Ba Ga Seitshiro traditional communities whose ancestors were unjustly and forcefully removed from their land through the Native Land Act.

President Ramaphosa says land restitution is the fulfillment of a constitutional promise.

“Today is the culmination of a struggle for land that has become a reality. When Chief Gaesegwe Henry Phoi submitted his community’s land claim on 9 July 1996, he was acting on a constitutional promise this country had just made to itself. So, when I hand over these title deeds today, I am fulfilling a constitutional responsibility.”

The chairperson of the Baralong Bo Rapulana Communal Property Association, Thapelo Magonare indicated that the slow pace of land restitution is still a concern.

“We are explaining this, trying to show that even when the land returns back slowly like we have previously raised our concerns, something indeed is happening and we are grateful but we are still asking that let the land be returned to us.”

 



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