Joy over Manyeleti land claim

COMMUNITY PROJECT: MPUMALANGA GAME RESERVE RETURNED TO RIGHTFUL OWNERS

- Masoka Dube

Manyeleti Nature Reserve in Mpumalanga has been handed over to the community after a successful land claim, and it will continue operating normally.

The 23 000-hectare nature reserve, which is home to animals including elephants, wild dogs, hyenas, lions and rhinos, is situated in Manyeleti in Bushbuckridge and shares a border with the Kruger National Park.

Last week, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso handed over 10 title deeds to the Manyeleti residents who successfully claimed the land.

According to the department, the title deeds were registered about two weeks ago and the minister officially handed them over to the beneficiaries.

In an interview with The Citizen, Sam Nkosi, chief director for land restitution support with the Mpumalanga office of land reform and rural development, said: "The claimants indicated that they are willing to continue to use the farm for conservation and ecotourism activities that are currently being practised.