Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Vusi Shongwe has called for an end to land invasions that have been reported in Schoemansdal and Kamhlushwa areas in Nkomazi Municipality.
This emerged during an urgent meeting between MEC Shongwe and representatives of Matsamo Tribal Authority held on 16 April 2013 at the Mpumalanga Provincial Government offices.
The tribal authority requested to have a meeting with the MEC following several court interdicts that were served on numerous individuals for illegally occupying land that has not been demarcated for human settlements.
The tribal authority felt that the police in Schoemansdal and Tonga were not assisting them because the invasion land continues amid the court orders that have served on several individuals in the affected areas.
The MEC also heard that there is an individual who has imposed himself as a tribal leader of one of Matsamo clans and it is alleged that he is also selling land without the knowledge of the tribal authority.
MEC Shongwe has warned people not to occupy land illegally because it is not acceptable as it is against the law. He says that such incidences also affect government’s planning on delivery of services to communities.
He explained if the land was not part of the developments by government it would not have services such water, sanitation and supply of electricity among others and it may fuel service delivery related protests.
He said those who occupy land illegally or sell any portion of land that is not demarcated to human settlements should be immediately arrested and prosecuted for contempt of court.
Shongwe has also called on SAPS in policing precincts affected by land invasions to ensure that they enforce court interdicts already issued without fear or favour in order to curb any further illegal occupation of land.
He added that those who consider themselves to be true community leaders do not go around selling land illegally to people because such tendencies may create unnecessary anarchy in communities.
“Whilst we acknowledge the sensitivity around land, we cannot have a situation where individuals sell stands illegally to unsuspecting community members. Nobody should take advantage of our people’s need for land and housing,” the MEC said.
MEC has also told the meeting that he would urgently refer the matter of a self imposed tribal leader to the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs to determine the legitimacy of his claims.
Speaking at the same meeting, Matsamo Tribal Authority Chairperson, Oscar Shongwe, has called on the MEC to assist them in ensuring that no further land invasions take place and that the police should ensure that they arrest those who sell tribal land unlawfully.
The chairperson has also called for increased police visibility in affected areas.
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