Future looks bright for Shongweni Dam

SHONGWENI Dam has been at the centre of a controversy since the land claim story broke in 2016.
The 1 700 hectare reserve was once a bustling hive of activity but has since become a shell of its former glory.

The Highway Mail met with Buhlebasembo directors (operating company of Zwelibomvu Community Trust (ZCT)) as well as Conservation Guardians to address the land claim concerns and rejuvenation plans.

A land claim was submitted by the ZCT, made up of 160 families. The land was purchased by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform from Umgeni Water for an estimated R14-million. It was then transferred into the trust’s name in 2013, however, the trust was only notified of this development 14 months later.

In a previous statement made to the Highway Mail in 2016, 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.

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On 30 June this year, Msinsi stopped operations on the land.

“The tented area is derelict, the front entrance has been burnt down, 25km of fencing is missing and there is a large variety of wildlife on the reserve. There is now a situation where all of these animals could walk out of here at any time,” said the head of the Conservation Guardians, Greg Vogt.

Sanele Ndlovu, the secretary and director of the trust’s operating company, Buhlebasembo Pty Ltd, and the trust’s director, Nomphilo Msombi, heartily agreed with Vogt’s statement.

“We do not place blame on any of the role-players concerned prior to the handover, but if the trust had been given the land when it was supposed to be handed over, it would be in a good, working condition. As it stands, no post-settlement funding has come through to set up operations or rejuvenate the dam,” said Vogt.

Earlier this year, a strike saw the entrance to the reserve go up in flames, and many attributed the strike to the land claim.

The ZCT denied this and clarified the reason behind the incident.

“There have been a few extended public works programmes at the dam that are government funded projects. This one involved removing alien plants. Previously five people from each of the local communities were included in the work. In the most recent project, one of the other communities were excluded, they were upset and there was a strike,” said Ndlovu.

Vogt said, “The concerns and frustrations of each community are easy to understand when you put yourself in their position.”

Vision for Shongweni Dam:

The successful land claimants appointed Conservation Guardians (CG) to oversee the park’s rejuvenation. The group’s members are young and driven as well as qualified environmentalists and modern conservationists.

“CG proposed a modular system that involves operating the reserve sustainably, meaning the biodiversity must be conserved, but the reserve has to offer sustainable operations to the three different communities,” said Vogt.

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“We have to offer communities alternative options to their cattle coming into the reserve or their subsistence use of the reserve for wood, for example. We achieve this by creating micro enterprise opportunities for these subsistence users. For example, we will teach them how to make compost, worm farms and do tunnel farming. We will introduce guiding programmes and upskill the neighbouring communities by teaching them new skills and creating employment opportunities for them both here at the reserve and outside of it,” said Vogt.

The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform met with the staff and ZCT on Thursday, 30 August to brief them on future actions. They confirmed the Conservation Guardians business plan has been adopted and they urged everyone to work together to make the reserve a success for all communities.

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