MEC Manana advises KwaNgema community to go to Land Claims Court over a land dispute

2 August 2010

Mpumalanga Safety Security and Liaison MEC Sibongile Manana has advised the KwaNgema community outside Piet Retief to stop causing crime but should take their dispute to the Land Claims Court. 

MEC Sibongile Manana rushed to KwaNgema on Sunday following reports that there was tension between the community, truck drivers and the police.

The community was reportedly blocking the road utilised by the trucks which transported wood, and the police having shot and arrested some people. 

The MEC intervened by calling an urgent meeting with the community, and she was told that the gravel road on the claimed land gravely created hostility between the locals which could lead to violence erupting in the area.

Apparently the land belongs to a certain local person who the community allegedly says he mischievously claimed it from the state after they had also claimed it. 

The people complained to the MEC that the process of purchasing the land was riddled with dishonesty on the part of the government officials handling the claim and as a result they the rightful owner is not known.

They told the MEC that they resorted to violence because the new land owner fenced the road thereby denying them access to other areas. They said the new owner also refused them access to the nearby dam in order to fetch water for consumption and for their fields.

The people told MEC Manana that they needed a mobile police station so that the response time to crime scenes and complaints could be improved as the local police station complained about the lack of the resources. 

They said the trucks damaged the road thereby making it difficult for the taxis to come fetch the learners to school or the community who may want to go to town.

The police also cannot do their job because the area has only one road and if it had rained, there is no movement whatsoever, they said.

Responding to some of the complaints, MEC Manana warned the community to refrain from taking the law into their own hands because they would face the full might of the law. 

“No one is allowed to block or barricade the road. If any of you do that, you would find yourselves in trouble because the drivers will call the police for help. If the current claim is valid, and the owners are intimidated, the police will arrest and investigate those involved and they will be subsequently prosecuted. 

“Form a committee that will take this matter to the Land Claims Court. All we need to know is how the claim went, if it did not go well, those people will be named and shamed,” said MEC Manana. 

The MEC was accompanied by Mpumalanga SAPS Commissioner Thulani Ntobela who encouraged the communities to work with the police at all times.

He called on the police to ensure that they work professionally and passionately with the people so that the community would have trust on the, 

He explained that 79 police officers were arrested from April 2009 to April 2010 in the province. Two weeks ago, 15 police officers were arrested in one day in Mpumalanga.

He said these officers tarnished the good image of the police. Mr Ntobela added that in the light of current staff shortages in the police service, the country would rather have few committed individuals who would assist government in the fight against crime rather than many who are not passionate about their country. 

Speaking about the shortage of vehicles Ntobela said the province spent over R5 million to purchase amoured vehicles to deal with service delivery protests in to adequately deal with violent protests.

Ntobela said if the community was protesting responsible, the money could have been utilized for purchasing more vehicles at the stations.

The Commissioner publicly gave his cellular phone number to the people saying they should contact him directly should they not get assistance from the police stations or station commanders.

Enquiries:

Joseph Mabuza
Tel.: 013 766 4055
Cell: 082 678 1450

Issued by Mpumalanga Department of Safety, Security and Liaison 

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