THE Gauteng Land Restitution Committee (GLRC) will closely watch the ANC's national congress in Mangaung, Free State, in December to decide if it will approach the Constitutional Court in its bid to have land claim restitution applications reopened.

The organisation, comprising people who failed to file land restitution claims before the December 31 1998 deadline, wants government to reopen the application process because it believes the notice to lodge claims was not adequate.

GLRC spokesman Hadifele Mohokare said the presidency had not responded to their request to meet the president.

"We started engaging government during former president Thabo Mbeki's term," he said.

"We have spoken to many ministers that have held the land portfolio. In 2007 we made a presentation to Parliament's portfolio committee on land affairs to explain that the Restitution of Land Rights Act was unconstitutional."

Rural Development and Land Reform spokesman Mtobeli Mxotwa said the department was considering reopening the process for special cases.

"The act covered people who lost land between 1913 and 1994. It did not cover those who lost it between 1652 and 1912. If the process were reopened it would look at those who were neglected." - xabav@sowetan.co.za