Sisters reclaim ancestral land

IT WAS a bittersweet moment for 83-year-old Juanita Solomon and her 76-year-old sister who finally received the title deed to the 16 plots of land which spans 6.5 acres, taken away from their parents during the Group Area Act.

- GENEVIEVE SERRA

But with joy, came disappointment after they were issued with property rates amounting to thousands of rand.

Solomon's parents owned the land - 16 plots which spanned 6.5 acres along 11th Avenue and Leytonstone Road in Retreat 80 years ago.

Following an investigation by Saturday Star's sister publication, the Cape Argus, City of Cape Town councillor Siseko Mbandezi, mayoral committee member for finance, said the property rates account would be reversed, saying that land reform beneficiaries legislation states that heirs be exempted 100% from property rates for 10 years.

A year ago, Solomon, a former nurse, was accompanied by her grandson, Alfonso Solomon, armed with documents proving their ownership of the land, and sat inside Parliament before the Regional Land Claims Commission. She shared her heart-wrenching story in tears.