Speaking during the official handing over ceremony on Sunday, Agriculture and Land Affairs Minister Lulama Xingwana said members of the community must actively use this land to their benefit.
"As a result of this restoration, the community of this land must fully participate and benefit from businesses conducted on this land from now onwards.
"Let me emphasise that all the land restored to the three communities today falls squarely within the nature reserves and it will continue to be used as such.
"This therefore means that you will own the land without physically occupying it for settlement, grazing or any other use," Xingwana said.
Welgeval's community leader Jonn Moloto lodged a claim with the regional Land Claims Commission of Gauteng and the North West province on behalf of the 47 descendent households more than eight years ago.
In 2006, the claim was approved and ownership of the farm Welgeval is now held through the Welgeval Community Property Association, with Bakgatla Ba Kgafela as co-owners.
The establishment of the Pilanesburg Nature Reserve led to the infringement of the land of many members of the community by the former Bophuthatswana government.
The Bophuthatswana government subdivided their land without any form of consultation.
Busa Moloane of Tlhabane was one of the people that lodged a claim about ten years ago.
She said her grandfather died struggling to get his land back on portion 13, 12 and 9 of the Vogelstruisnek 173 JP and portion 19 of the Ruighoek farm.
"I am very happy that we have received our lands because for some of us, the former government has disadvantaged our families.
"My grandfather who passed away many years ago, struggled a lot for this land, unfortunately his efforts were unsuccessful," Moloana said.
She said they will work with government to make sure those members of the community benefit from the land.
"We have received land which is very fertile and our intentions are to use the land for agriculture, conservation and tourism.
"Our government has supported us very much in this process and we will work closely with them to make sure that our people benefit," she said.
In 2007, the Land Claims Commission settled 1,138 out of 1,219 claims lodged in the North West. - Kagiso Metswamere, BuaNews
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