Commission on Restitution of Land Rights Works to Overcome Payment System Hurdles

The Commission on Restitution of Land Rights (CRLR) is in the process of tackling significant challenges associated with financial compensation payments to land claimants in the Eastern Cape, an issue that escalated tensions, resulting in the blockage of the N2 highway. The root of the problem lies with the transition to a new payment system, as required by the National Treasury.

Sources within the Commission have acknowledged the frustration and inconvenience this situation has caused, both to the public and specifically to claimant communities awaiting payments. The National Treasury has called time on CRLR's existing payment system, citing the need for a more secure and efficient bulk payment processing method. Unfortunately, the development of this new system has hit delays, extending beyond the initially prescribed timeline.

Discussions with National Treasury have concluded that the current payment mechanisms will not undergo extension beyond 31 July 2024. This hard deadline exacerbates the Commission's current inability to process bulk payments, causing further delays in compensation dispersion to claimants.

In an effort to overcome this problem, the CRLR, together with the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) in the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, is working on the plan to implement the mandated new payment system. Despite the complexities, the Commission provides a tentative timeline, suggesting that the new system should be operational by the end of October 2024, with full implementation expected by the end of November 2024.

Land restitution is a critical and sensitive issue in South Africa, and the Commission is fully committed to rectifying the payment delays. Ongoing engagement with National Treasury is aiming to source interim solutions that would allow for the resumption of payments while development of the new system is underway.

The CRLR calls for patience from all affected communities and advises against further public disruptions, emphasizing the commitment to prioritizing claimants' needs and resolving the delays promptly.