ACCORDING to reports land claim has been lodged against De Beers Venetia mine, the biggest diamond mine in South Africa. The claim is part of a multi-billion land claim that the Tshivhula and Matshete communities submitted in 1998. It said the Land Claims Commissioner has now declared the claim valid. Venetia produces around 50% of South Africas diamonds by value.

According to the South African news agency, Mashile Mokono, Limpopos land claims commissioner, said they investigated the claims and published a gazette, which means the preliminary finding is that the claims are satisfying the requirements.

The Tshivhula and Matshete communities say the land belongs to their forefathers who were forcefully removed in the 1880s by whites who came to settle in the area from the direction of Polokwane. However, they do not want to take over the mine, the report said.

De Beers said they had not yet decided whether the claims are valid or not, that they are continuing discussions with the land claims commissioner and the claimants, and that they are giving their full cooperation.