LIMPOPO – Some residents from the Kutama area appear to be in a dispute with their senior traditional leader, Thovhele Vele Kutama over what they term the illegal selling of their stands and farms.
On September 4, the group marched to the Kutama Tribal Council office to deliver a memorandum outlining their grievances. Among the group were learners who also joined the march to raise their concerns.
The ongoing feud between community members and Kutama shows no sign of being resolved. In this latest development, residents accuse Kutama of selling land in a discriminatory manner without respecting the rights of the people who live there.
Meetings have been held in Kutama on several occasions, during which numerous residents voiced their concerns about how land issues were being handled.
Residents claim Kutama is abusing his power by selling stands and small farms belonging to local residents to outsiders without the former owners’ permission or knowledge.
According to the community representative, Musundwa Mafanedza, they approached Kutama to enquire about the sale of their stands and farms, and his response was simply that the land belonged to him. “We were angered to hear those words from the mouth of a traditional leader in whom we had placed our trust, respect, and confidence,” Mafanedza said.
In response to the accusations and the protests by residents, Kutama acknowledged that the protest had taken place. He confirmed receipt of the memorandum outlining the grievances and stated that the council, consisting of all nine chiefs from the area, would review it. Kutama promised that the residents would receive a response within seven days.
