Land dispute halts construction of job-creating mall
Construction of a R360m mall in Buffelspruit, Nkomazi subregion hangs in the balance and could rob thousands of community members of much- needed employment opportunities.
This derailment is as a result of infighting regarding the ownership of the land where the mall is to be built.
The land belongs to the Matsamo Tribal Authority which has allocated it to the board of trustees of the envisaged shopping mall.
Construction has begun with earthworks already taking place, however, a court interdict will put the development in jeopardy and may scare off investors that have already committed to the project.
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According to concerned community members who alerted Mpumalanga News about these developments, all due processes were followed by the community which led to the board of trustees being elected by all the major stakeholders.
A title deed for the land in question was obtained with the blessing of the Matsamo Tribal Authority as the land is under its tutelage.
However, a court interdict by Solomon Mabuza of Buhlebuyeza Industrial, who claims that the land is for agricultural purposes and also belongs to him, stands in the way of a development which the community believes will help in the fight against poverty and joblessness in the area.
Nkomazi, mostly dominated by rural villages with an unemployment rate of about 70%, is Mpumalanga’s largest subregion with over 53 villages.
The full article was published in the Mpumalanga News on Wednesday, September 15.
