Minister encourages traditional leaders to reap the rewards of development

RURAL development and land reform minister, Gugile Nkwinti, encouraged traditional leaders around Senwabarwana to become significant shareholders in the two mines that are expected to commence operations in the area next year.

He said there were some mining companies in South Africa that were paying rent of only R10 000 to the communities where they operated per year while they were making profits of R10 billion.

Nkwinti, who was accompanied by chief Livhuwani Matsila from the Matsila Community Development Trust to facilitate the meeting, said opting to get a rental fee from mining companies was a losing game.

“To avoid that, be a shareholder in order to develop your villages rather than opting for less money in rental fees. Senwabarwana has vast lands where they can open community development projects as a way to eradicate poverty,” he said.

“We created a community property association (CPA) after realising that people were removed from their fertile land by the apartheid system.

“The only challenge we are facing is that the CPA members who were elected democratically by the community don’t want to vacate their positions.

“Some CPA members are selling the land without any consultation with traditional authorities and the community,” he said.

“I give credit to the Matsila Development Trust, the Mulenzhe Development Trust and the Masia Development Trust for starting the projects that employed a lot of people in their areas. The three development trusts are contributing much in the economy of the province. Now it is up to the people of Senwabarwana to learn from the three projects in the Vhembe district. Government is there to support them,” said Nkwinti.

“The time for burning down schools when people are demanding a new clinic is over,” he said.

Blouberg mayor, Serite Segoloane, said areas such as Ga-Malebogo, Kibi and Seakamela relied on farming and they should initiate agricultural projects to fight poverty. He said there were 41 000 households in Blouberg.

He said if the minister could assist, the 39% unemployment rate under the young people would be reduced. “There is an abundance of prime land for development,” he said.