Tribal leaders complicate the issue of illegal land occupation
Shongwe said the municipality was faced with the challenge that tribal leaders left them behind when they informed people they could occupy land.
SCHOEMANSDAL – On June 26 three days after Mzinti residents took to the streets in protest demanding electricity, water and a new bridge, Corridor Gazette met with MMC for infrastructure in Nkomazi Cllr Million Shongwe to hear from him what he believed to be the cause of service-delivery protests.
Shongwe said the municipality was faced with the challenge that tribal leaders left them behind when they informed people they could occupy land. He said this was not a problem only in Mzinti, but was also widespread in other communities in Nkomazi.
He said, “A serious challenge is the number of new stands. We say to chiefs and kings that the municipality is trailing behind. By law before they can issue out new stands, the municipality needs to be informed and be present during the issuing of them. This is so we can say where water pipes need to run and where electricity poles need to be. In Mzinti there are situations where you have an electricity pole right on someone’s doorstep just because these stands are not allocated accordingly.”
Shongwe added that despite efforts to explain to tribal leaders of the consequences of issuing land to people without the municipality being informed, they continued to do so.
“The other day I explained to kings and chiefs that they should refrain from issuing land to people without telling us, and what consequences this had. But they still insist on issuing land to people in the wilderness. They want water and electricity, but those from the tribal leadership have left us behind when they were issuing land. However, when our people are faced with such problems we cannot play the blame game,” explained Shongwe.
He said, “The main problem with Mzinti protest was the electricity problem. We have resolved it and the project commenced on July 1.”
However, Mzinti residents had vowed to take to the streets should they see no sign of action by July 2.
At the time of going to print, this publication had not received any reports of strike action in the community.
