Land claim dispute result in disaster
This has left church members fuming after they had discovered the destruction when they went for their evening prayer service and found rubble instead.
MATSULU – A feud over ownership of a stand where the Old Apostolic Church stood ended in the building being demolished by a TLB tractor last Monday.
This incident has left church members fuming after they informed this newspaper that they had discovered the destruction when they went for their evening prayer service and found rubble instead.
The church members allege that Mr Madurka Masuku, a teacher at Takheleni Primary School, came to the church on November 16 and informed them that where the church stood was his place.
They further alleged that they should move or else he would destroy the church and would shoot anyone who tried to stop him.
According to Pastor Raymond Singwayo, “Masuku came to our church, demanded his stand back, and insisted that we find another place to build our church.
This is shocking because we have proof of ownership and residence for this stand from Mbombela Local Municipality.
We have been occupying this land for the past five years. We have never encountered such confrontation before.”
Attempts to speak to Masuku proved futile.
Spokesperson for the police, Brig Selvy Mohlala said, “Given that a case has been opened, we will try to resolve this matter as much as possible because we don’t encourage violence in communities.
“Regarding land disputes, in particular, implicated people must provide documents supporting the right of ownership of the said land.”
Mohlala further stated that people could also challenge related matters in court and stop taking the law into their own hands.
