MEC says no to invasions

MBOMBELA – Many municipalities in the province are facing the problem of land invasions.

Some of the most affected municipalities are Mbombela, Umjindi, Bushbuckridge and Nkomazi.

Mpumalanga News learned that the majority of the targeted areas fall under the authority of traditional leaders.

Recently, the MEC for Cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta), Ms Refilwe Mtsweni lambasted community members who undermined traditional leaders to the extent that they occupied open spaces illegally without reaching an agreement with the tribal authority or chief.

“There are people who disrespect ‘Amakhosi’ by invading land, building shacks without any engagement with the tribal authority or chief. This is totally unacceptable. We need to come to our senses and remember the role played by traditional leaders during the apartheid era.

Some of the families from the royal houses lost their loved ones because they were protecting their people,” said Mtsweni.
She then commented that land invasion also had a negative impact on the government when it came to service delivery.

“Such incidents affect municipalities and government badly because of invading land that is not formalised with no water, electricity and the road conditions are a disgrace.

“At the end of the day, the very same community decides to barricade roads with burning tyres and rocks demanding services from government,” she said.

In calling for the respect of traditional authorities, Mtsweni said, “As government, we have a good working relationship with ‘AboNdabethiza’ to ensure we also better the lives of the people who are in deep rural areas that are ruled by traditional leaders,” she concluded.

This publication also learned that some of the community members invading land are those who claimed to be fed up of waiting for their RPD houses.