Dark side of dispute

AWELANI Eco-tourism Lodge is left in the dark after the Vhembe District Municipality (VDM) instructed Eskom to disconnect their electricity.

The disconnection letter was signed by the municipal manager, Masala Makumule in May. Makumele also requested Eskom not to reconnect it again unless authorised by the municipality.

Spokesperson for the Lodge, Calvin Munzhelele said the basis of the municipality’s instruction to Eskom was that this community refused to grant VDM a 10% stake in this project.

According to Munzhele, the community of Masisi was denied financial benefits that they could derive from running this lodge.

“This multi-million park and lodge, covering over 1700 hectares was given to the Masisi community in Limpopo as part of government’s land redistribution process. It currently has 40 employees. Now with Vhembe District Municipality’s actions, this project stands to collapse,” he said.

“To compound the situation for Awelani Eco-Tourism, they cannot talk directly to Eskom, because the account is held by VDM. The land redistribution process is meant to benefit the community, it is not meant as a revenue scheme for municipalities. It is communities and its people, not government entities that are land reform beneficiaries,” he said.

The DA’s Limpopo leader, Jacques Smalle said the party fully supported the land reform process, especially when it uplifted communities.

He said Awelani Eco-Tourism was one of those projects. According to Smalle, the project had the potential to thrive and employ more people.

“We urge local government MEC, Ishmael Kgejepe to intervene in order to ensure VDM desists from its heavy-handedness in dealing with this community. An amicable solution must be arrived at,” said Smalle.

A spokesperson for Eskom in Thohoyandou, Thiofhi Ratshitanga said he could not talk about Awelani Lodge’s account in the public domain, but confimed they switched off the lodge’s electicity supply on instruction from the municipality.

A spokesperson for the Vhembe District Municipality, Moss Shibambu said they could not comment on this matter as it was now in the Thohoyandou High Court.