The office of the regional land claims commissioner has issued a warning to potential claimants to be aware of bogus land claims officials, after a spate of complaints against individuals attempting to solicit funds, as well as political allegiance.

The office has heard complaints about prospective claimants being approached by claims ‘officials’ urging them to join unnamed political parties, in the hopes of having their restitution claims fast-tracked. In a similar vein, some individuals have also been approached with the same offer should they pay a certain fee.

In the Western Cape region, claims are only approved at two permanent, and one mobile lodgement offices. The permanent offices are stations in Mowbray as well as George, whilst the mobile office is currently operating in the Central Karoo, moving around to various parts of the province. Hence any individual claiming to represent offices outside of these locations are likely to be scammers.

“I think it was a general complaint and not that party officials are station at the office (Mowbray), because no party officials are stationed there. The complaints were that people from the peninsula were being approached, saying that if they join the political party their claim will be fast-tracked,” reiterated David Smit, director of operational management with the regional land claims office.

There have also been claims that scammers have been attempting to acquire the personal information of individuals. Smit sought to remind claimants that the claims process was in fact free of charge, and they need not give out any information or money to anyone purporting to be an claims official. There was also no need to fill in any claims forms, as all data is captured electronically at the respective lodgement offices.

Smit further stressed the that service of restitution was in no way politicised, and regardless of what political party the individual was aligned it would have no weight in the claim. Furthermore, land claims officials were not allowed to ask about the claimants political affiliations, rather accepting the claim based on the documents presented to them.

“Allegiance to a political party will not assist you in any way,” he said. VOC (Mubeen Banderker)