Residents get to air views

MBOMBELA – Residents of Msholozi are still nursing hopes of the village being formalised into a township. A year ago it was announced that Msholozi would soon be a township.

Hundreds of mostly unemployed people of the area attended a public-participation meeting held on June 18 at the local playground. It was intended to consult with them on the development of 29 kilometres of the P166/1/2 bypass road which will stretch from the Barberton Road to Casterbridge in White River.

“This road was initially planned back in the 1970s, and was to go through the area where Msholozi is now situated. Due to the development of the settlement, it will now pass the outskirts of Msholozi. We want people to be aware of the processes and give their comments,” explained Cllr Kenneth Mkhonto.

He said the development of the road would bring a lot of job opportunities to the area. According to the project manager of Royal Haskoning DHV, Mr Paul Da Cruz, similar public-participation meetings are to take place in other areas affected by the development.

He estimated the actual commencement of the project will happen in four or five years’ time. Mbombela Local Municipality has resolved to fence Msholozi to prevent further encroachments on the land.
This was heard during a recent special council meeting.

The area belongs to the National Department of Public Works, and Mbombela has engaged with it to transfer the land in order to formalise the settlement which ballooned in 2010 after it was invaded in 2008.

“Only once the transfer has been effected would families living in areas affected by restrictions such as the flood line be moved. Council also resolved that, henceforth, no individual would be allowed to allocate stands and only the ward committee would be allowed to represent the community,” stated the council.