Registrar clarifies customary land rights

PEOPLE who claim that they have bought land from customary landowners should bear in mind that they have not completely bought the ownership of that land, Incorporated Land Group registrar Iruna Rogakila says.
Rogakila said the Lands Department, under the leadership of Minister Justin Tkatchenko, is working on formalising the process so that customary landowners can take back their land and lease it to the buyers.
Any lease money the landowner receives is taxable
“We will ensure that ILGs are issued to the legitimate landowners through the units,” he said.
“My appeal to the general public, those who have purchased land through individuals and other clan members, bear in mind that you never bought the ownership off, you only bought of the right to occupy the land.
“We will be formalising everything under the leadership of the minister and acting secretary.
“We will ensure that those who have residential or improvements on the customary land we will ensure that they are formally titled under the individuals as sub-lease and the head lease will be the ILGs.
“Instead of the State collecting the revenues, those benefits will be collected by the ILGs and we will make sure that those formalities will be underway before the end of the year.
“Be reminded that those settling on customary land, you will still be paying annual rentals to the landowners.
“You never bought off the ownership rights so that’s one good thing that we are planning.”
Rogakila said customary landowners, who had their ILG certificates, should ensure that their property listings and membership listings were updated annually.
“Any formal agreements that you have with other agencies or stakeholders, all those agreements need to be updated regularly on the database of your ILG.
“Those formal titles you may have after the ILG process, certificate of titles that you will have, will also be updated as part of your property listings.
“Any revenue that you are collecting, be mindful that you are not going to get away, you have to comply with the laws of the ILG Act, and annually you have to submit your returns, annual statements of assets and liability to the ILG.”