EXPELLED ANC youth league president Julius Malema made a surprise appearance at a ceremony outside Burgersfort in Limpopo, where the Mangabane community were officially handed a title deed to their dispossessed land on which Anglo Platinum has mining operations.

Malema arrived just after the end of formal proceedings.

He was given an opportunity to speak by Greater Tubatse municipality mayor Mahlake Nkosi, who introduced him as "the president" to the less enthusiastic crowd.

Though he said he won't talk much "to avoid getting certain people into trouble", Malema launched an attack on the deal the Mangabane community reached with Anglo Platinum, describing it as "not enough".

"The land was taken by whites through force. They will continue to plunder and get fat on our minerals," Malema said.

He said the community should have been given 51% of the shares of the platinum mine.

Malema demanded that all supply contracts of the mine be awarded to local businesspeople.

He said the once-off cash payment of R4.3-million to the community by Anglo Platinum was inadequate and "they should give you more money".

Meanwhile, chief director of land restitution in Limpopo, Tele Maphoto, defended the deal in which rural development and land reform department paid just more than R2-million to the Molekana clan for their dispossessed land on which Anglo Platinum has a mine.

Maphoto told Sowetan that it was the clan itself that opted for cash compensation totalling R2,295,300 for their land and "we can't decide for them". The money was shared among 42 households, with each receiving R54,650.

"We spoke to them about the options available. We would have restored the land to them, offered them cash compensation or provided them with alternative land," Maphoto said.