The Land Rights Amendment Bill

The President Jacob Zuma has signed the restitution of land rights amendment bill into law.

The legislation notably re-opens the restitution claims process that closed at the end of 1998 and gives claimants five years - to 30 June 2019 - to lodge land claims.

Only about 80 000 land restitution claims were lodged by the 1998 deadline and it is estimated that there are up to five times as many valid cases that can be brought by victims of apartheid-era forced removals.

The legislation also regulates the appointment and service conditions of judges of the Land Claims Court.

Date: 22nd July 2014