The last demolition satisfies the people
"We had no choice as the land had been allocated for other purposes by the chiefs."
BUSHBUCKRIDGE – Community members of Buyisonto Village have expressed their satisfaction with the chieftaincy after a house was demolished last Thursday. Earlier this year, residents closed the road between Thulamahashe and Bushbuckridge, demanding the Mafemani Tribal Authority give them answers concerning this particular house which was skipped while others were demolished.
They were furious after the chief claimed that people had built on land belonging to the royal house of the son of former Tsonga king, Ngungunyane Nxumalo.
According to the spokesperson of the royal house, Mr Mhlolo Mathabela, during the demolition, which came after the dwellers had been warned not to build on tribal land without permission, the house in question was left because of other issues
He said that it also had to be destroyed because the Human Rights Commission, representing other residents whose houses were demolished, demanded that the chieftain do so. “We are not happy about what has happened to people owning these properties but we had no choice as the land had been allocated for other purposes by the chief,” said Mathabela.
Community members said they had applied for residential sites through an induna in 2000 but land was never allocated.
They added that it was not fair that other houses were demolished but this one was not.
“Building a house is expensive and people make a lot of sacrifices to ensure they have shelter and now others just demolish houses at random. We are talking about thousands of rand lost here,” said Lucas Mathebula, a member of the community.
