KHUMBULA – History was made when thousands of residents from Khumbula and Gutshwa matched to hand over a memorandum with their grievances to the area’s traditional leader, Chief Sive Khumalo at his royal residence.
Throngs of people chanted songs and carried placards with slogans such as,
“No to exploiting our community!” “Respect the elders!”, ”Hon DD must intervene!”, and many more.
“We acknowledge the reign of Khumalo and we respect his chieftaincy, however we have noted with utter dismay the tyrannical methods and exorbitant levies imposed upon the community by the chief and his council,” reads parts of the memorandum.
Their grievances include the increase of all services available at the tribal authority ranging from attaining a mere proof of residence, residential fees,
springbok money and the ruthless demolition of houses and churches at Mgcobaneni Trust, monthly levies from hawkers and the demand imposed on orphans and widows to pay R1 500 to transfer property ownership, to name a few.
Members of the community also allege that in the past five years of Chief Khumbula’s reign, he hardly called a community meeting to communicate in any form with his people.
“We need him to consult with the community, call meetings and address us properly, not the way things are currently run presently,” said Mr Vava Malandule, a committee member.
The march was peaceful and the memorandum was received by one of the chief’s headman from Mbonisweni known as Nyathikazi.
When this newspaper consulted with Chief Khumalo last Tuesday, he acknowledged that his office had received the memorandum, “We will check on it with the traditional council,” he said.
The leader in the house of traditional leaders in the province, Kgoshi Lameck Mathibela Mokoena, said they would have a meeting with traditional leaders to see if levies could not be made uniform as they differed from chieftaincy to chieftaincy.
He also urged traditional leaders in the province to occasionally meet with their subjects and discuss issues that concerned them amicably.
Meanwhile, the Khumalo Traditional Council will host its annual cultural ceremony (Ummemo) this Saturday, March 14 from 10:00 at the Chief Mgiyeni Khumalo Royal house.
