Shongweni Dam faces land claim takeover
Professional game capturers are on-site to capture and relocate the game from the local reserve.
SOCIAL media was awash with reports that men with rifles arrived at the Msinsi Game Reserve in Shongweni due to a long-standing land claim.
Mduduzi Ngubane, the divisional head of operations for Msinsi Limited, said that Shongweni Dam was subjected to a successful land claim to the Zwelibomvu community. He noted that Msinsi would continue to manage Shongweni Dam until such time that the community was ready to take over the operation of the reserve.
Ngubane stated that game capture and removal was part of the company’s normal operations whereby they transferred game from one reserve to another.
According to Kim Pople, chairman of the Umzinyathi Canoe Club, the Land Claims Commission had put in a bid for a land claim on the reserve and noted that the land is classified as a reserve and this status would remain.
“With regards to the ongoing land claim, Msinsi is protecting its movable assets. The armed men are professional game capturers and are responsible for capturing and safely relocating the game,” said Pople.
In regards to the future of the canoe club, Pople said that the club would negotiate with the Zwelibomvu community. “We are looking forward to cementing a great relationship with them going forward. We have an award-winning development programme at our club, and have the likes of Sbonelo Khwela and Baneste Nkhoesa in our club. Shongweni Dam is one of the most beautiful training and competition venues in the country, and our recently installed sprint lanes played host this year to KZN Sprints, SA Sprints, SA Schools, African Champs and an Olympic qualifier, which was a huge boost to our local economy,” concluded Pople.
