An irate Inkhosi HR Nkhosi and the spokesperson of this traditional council, Bongani Mabuza, have since issued a stern warning to all those who are illegally selling the land using their names and that of traditional council.
This comes after allegations surfaced that the leaders of the land invaders were posing as representatives of Msogwaba Tribal Council. It is alleged that they claim that the land belongs to the above traditional council and is for sale. Stands are said to be selling for between R6 000 to R30 000.
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“We are here to set the record straight. The Msogwaba Tribal Council has not sent anyone to invade, allocate or sell out any piece of land on its behalf. The people who are selling stands out there using our names are misleading the community and this constitutes a criminal offence,” fumed Mabuza. “It has come to our attention that there are people posing as messengers from the council and then illegally sell stands to unsuspecting people. This is daylight robbery,” said Nkhosi.
He went on to say that the Msogwaba council doesn’t have any documentation of ownership over the land in question. Asked if the land was ever transferred to them by the former KaNgwane government, Nkhosi said, “That land was never transferred to the council.
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We are still engaging government on getting it back. But for now, we have no documentation of ownership and people must stop dragging the council’s name in their dirty work.” He added that according to customs and traditions, traditional leaders don’t sell land but issue land belonging to them for certain fees, which are far less than the thousands charged by the alleged illegal sellers.
“We don’t have any land at the moment, but whenever there is any available, interested citizens come to our tribal offices where all processes are done; not under the trees and from car boots. No one from the council will ever take money in the bush and allocate land to people,” he stressed.
The City of Mbombela Local Municipality has obtained an eviction order against landgrabbers in some areas around Mbombela.
