The government says it is committed to reversing the legacy of the 1913 Natives Land Act‚ the implementation of which instigated a long and devastating history of forced removals and evictions of Africans from their ancestral lands.Sunday marked the 103rd anniversary of the enactment of the act‚ subsequent to which many more laws were passed to enforce policies of separate racial and ethnic development in the country‚ the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform said.In addition to this‚ the act had resulted in a loss of homes and essential resources‚ cultural destruction‚ family/ community dissolution‚ impoverishment and mass unemployment. This legislation left only 13% of the land for black occupation‚ forcing about 80% of the population into the least agriculturally productive areas‚ it said.“Although it was eventually repealed‚ its legacy remains visible in the skewed land ownership patterns that still exist in South Africa. Since the advent of democracy 22 years ago‚ efforts have been made to reverse the legacy of the 1913 Natives Land Active and other racially motivated policies and practices.“This Act is also the foundation of the triple challenge of poverty‚ unemployment and the inequality in our country.South Africans who were disposed of their land following the 1913 act have been given a second opportunity to claim for redress until June 2019.‚” the department added.It said the land claims process had been re-opened in 2014 in terms of the Restitution Act‚ to give those who had failed to lodge their claims for restitution during the first lodgement period an opportunity to do so. “Land Restitution‚ which is one of the key elements of the Land Reform Programme of the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform‚ is critical to achieving the vision of an integrated inclusive rural economy as set out in Chapter 6 of the National Development Plan.“Government remains committed to reversing the legacy of the Natives Land Act through the Constitution and the law‚” the department stated.Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform Gugile Nkwinti said that over the past 22 years‚ significant progress has been made toward this goal. During the first lodgement period from 1995-1998‚ over 79‚000 claims were lodged‚ 78‚750 of which had been settled. Land acquired by the state amounts to 1‚900‚913 million hectares.“A total of R16 billion has been spent on the restitution programme thus far‚ in settling claims‚ while R10 billion has been spent to acquire land‚ and R6 billion has been used toward the settlement of financial compensation claims.“The day (19th June) gives South Africans an opportunity to reflect on the gains that have been made to restore rights in land to those who suffered the indignity of forced removals and other forms of dispossession of land‚” the minister added...