Mtubatuba land dispute goes to high court
Nkodibe residents must work with Mtubatuba Municipality until the outcome of the court case
HIGH court proceedings in connection with the case behind November’s land dispute riots on the N2 at the St Lucia/Nongoma R618 exit are underway.
Community members blockaded both the N2 and R618 off-ramp with burning tyres and other debris when they were informed their houses would be demolished as they had been built on private land. Until then, they had been under the impression the land was tribal trust land.
According to reports, the landowner had made an agreement with the previous induna of the area, that his people could live on the land, but when the induna died and his brother took over, the landowner wished to end the agreement.
While the exact size of the land is currently unknown, it stretches both north and south of the R618 bridge alongside the N2.
The matter went to the Durban High Court last month and Mtubatuba Municipality has been tasked with carrying out a survey in the area.
It must determine the number of homes and people that would be affected should demolition go ahead.
The municipality must also determine the infrastructure, such as schools, clinics and crèches, that has been built on the land.
On Sunday, Mtubatuba Mayor Israel Nyawo, Deputy Mayor Aidhika Roy and Municipal Manager Nonhlanhla Mzimela met with affected community members and explained the situation.
They advised community members to cooperate with the municipality during the survey, as not doing so would only hinder the court case and ultimate outcome.
The municipality must give the results of its survey to the court on Tuesday.
