Minister Beverley Schäfer welcomes hand-over of title deeds for largest agricultural land claim in the WC
· 2 min read
Minister of Economic Opportunities, Beverley Schäfer says she hopes that the people of Ebenhaeser go on to become successful commercial farmers, following the hand-over of title deeds in the Western Cape’s largest agricultural restitution land claim on Saturday.
President Cyril Ramaphosa handed over title deeds to representatives of the Ebenhaeser, Vaalplaas and
This claim is the largest agricultural restitution claim in the Western Cape and the longest outstanding one in the province. It involves 3990 ha of commercial farmland and more than 2000 beneficiaries who are the direct descendants of the Griqua community who established themselves on the farm as far back as 1926.
The claim was originally submitted in 1996 but has been hampered by numerous delays.
Minister Schäfer said: “For four and a half years, I engaged with the Ebenhaeser community as Chair of the standing committee over the frustrations and mistrust among the Community Property Association and Trust. This is the longest outstanding land claim in the WC and it became paramount that this claim would be resolved before the end of the 5th Parliament.
She said :”I am very happy to say that yesterday was a joyous occasion as the President of the Republic handed over title deeds to the representative of the claimants for Ebenhaeser, Vaalplaas and
“This land claim has unfortunately taken more than 22 years to resolve. Land reform must be fast tracked to give dignity to many of the people displaced from their homes. We hope that the people of Ebenhaeser, Vaalplaas and
The Department of Agriculture in the province will provide advice and extension services to the farmers, as required, to ensure that this land claim is a success for everyone involved.
“Agriculture is a major contributor to economic growth and job creation in our province and successful transformation of the sector contributes to further growth and development in this sector. The Western Cape has an independently verified 72% success rate for land reform projects it supports and we believe that with the proper support, skills and market access, the farmers of Ebenhaeser, Vaalplaas and
More from
Markets, business and trade
Does Government know what it’s costing you?
A decision made in Pretoria can change the way a wine business operates. But who makes sure the people making those decisions understand what happens on the ground? South Africa Wine’s Jordyn Goeieman takes us inside the often unseen work of influencing the policies that affect the industry.
All roads lead to Wine Paris
With professionals from more than 169 countries attending Wine Paris in 2026, the exhibition has become an increasingly important meeting point for the global wine trade. Nicolas Cuissard, Director of Wine Paris, speaks to WineLand about the exhibition’s growing international influence, opportunities for South African producers and what it takes to turn participation into business.
Before you bottle it, can you sell it?
A good wine and an attractive label are not enough to build a sustainable business. South Africa Wine’s Phil Bowes explains why finding customers, testing assumptions and understanding the numbers should come before committing to a new wine brand.