Communal land boards have successfully adjudicated 251 out of 276 communal land appeal cases since the Communal Land Reform Act of 2002 was operationalised in 2003.
There are currently 25 unresolved appeal cases in the process.
This was revealed by land reform minister Calle Schlettwein when he officiated an induction training of the appeal tribunal members yesterday.
He underscored the importance of fairness when discharging their functions or when members are confronted with complex land related issues.
“Let us all commit here today as an Appeal Tribunal, that you will abide to act fair in land processes, with honesty, transparent and you will act with urgency to submit your judgment within 14 calendar days so that my office can further communicate your decision timely to the affected parties. You can agree with me that when decisions are passed timely, security of tenure will be enhanced and people will have confidence in our system, promote genuine land administration and communal land investment,” he encouraged.
Communal land is administered by communal land boards in close collaboration with recognised traditional authorities.
In some cases, the decisions of the communal land boards and traditional authority are not taken in a fair manner, hence the appeals.
Where people compete for such a scarce resource (land) it is also evident that related disputes would emerge.
Such disputes require to be adjudicated in a well-organised manner.
Schlettwein reminded members that the duties of communal land boards are not easy.
“As members of the appeal tribunal, you have a huge responsibility to review decisions made by communal land boards and ensure that such decisions are above board, and were made in line with the governing statute, for example, the Communal Land Reform Act, 2002 (Act No: 5 of 2002),” he noted.
The mandate of the appeal tribunal is to confirm, set aside or amend the decision which is the subject of the appeal; as well as make any order as members may think fit.
The appeal tribunal consists of Kenneth Munyama, Nondumiso Mbidi, Isabella Tjatjara, Hafeni Hamunyela, Magdelena Joseph, Daniel Kufuna, Maitjituavi Kavetu, Bartholomeus Mpasi and Iyaloo Hamulungu.