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Johannesburg - Paper and pulp group Mondi [JSE:MND] said on Thursday it had forged a "strategic partnership" with the department of rural development and land reform to ensure the expeditious settlement of land claims and the provision of post-settlement support.
Mondi said the agreement was signed by its chairperson Cyril Ramaphosa and Gugile Nkwinti, the Minister for Rural Development and Land Reform.
While the 11 concluded settlements had successfully produced measurable outcomes and continued to provide valuable lessons, Mondi said the process thus far had been erratic and unpredictable for all parties.
Mondi has had 11 of its 33 claims settled in KwaZulu-Natal, covering 18 000 hectares of forestry land.
"In particular, post-settlement support has lacked clarity with respect to content, roles and responsibilities, funding mechanisms and risk sharing," the company said.
To address these shortcomings, the department and Mondi had agreed to a programme for the settlement of all outstanding KwaZulu-Natal land claims on Mondi-owned land.
These claims would be settled within the next two financial years, with the department purchasing all such land on behalf of the claimants, Mondi said.
Nkwinti said the agreement was in line with the department's desire to work in partnership with the private sector to ensure continued production on and sustainability of restituted land.
Ramaphosa said that with this agreement, Mondi had effectively ensured the settlement of 40% of all claims to its land nationally, and the vast majority of outstanding claims in KwaZulu-Natal.
"This is securing the fibre supply into our mills. Moreover, by creating certainty and by ensuring the empowerment of land beneficiaries, this agreement will ensure that we work together to develop future forestry leaders. It is a giant leap forward for the land restitution programme," Ramaphosa said.
Mondi said the agreement was signed by its chairperson Cyril Ramaphosa and Gugile Nkwinti, the Minister for Rural Development and Land Reform.
While the 11 concluded settlements had successfully produced measurable outcomes and continued to provide valuable lessons, Mondi said the process thus far had been erratic and unpredictable for all parties.
Mondi has had 11 of its 33 claims settled in KwaZulu-Natal, covering 18 000 hectares of forestry land.
"In particular, post-settlement support has lacked clarity with respect to content, roles and responsibilities, funding mechanisms and risk sharing," the company said.
To address these shortcomings, the department and Mondi had agreed to a programme for the settlement of all outstanding KwaZulu-Natal land claims on Mondi-owned land.
These claims would be settled within the next two financial years, with the department purchasing all such land on behalf of the claimants, Mondi said.
Nkwinti said the agreement was in line with the department's desire to work in partnership with the private sector to ensure continued production on and sustainability of restituted land.
Ramaphosa said that with this agreement, Mondi had effectively ensured the settlement of 40% of all claims to its land nationally, and the vast majority of outstanding claims in KwaZulu-Natal.
"This is securing the fibre supply into our mills. Moreover, by creating certainty and by ensuring the empowerment of land beneficiaries, this agreement will ensure that we work together to develop future forestry leaders. It is a giant leap forward for the land restitution programme," Ramaphosa said.
