Community demands tribal leaders’ transparency

PANDEMONIUM ruled KwaNdaya Reserve outside eSikhaleni on Monday morning when angry residents took their grievances against the local traditional leadership to the streets.

Chaos reigned when residents burned tyres and toppled municipal skips to barricade roads, followed by flying rubber bullets and teargas fired by the police to disperse the angry crowd.

With community members starting fires and blocking roads all over the area, the tense situation became a cat and mouse game between residents and police. According to residents, the protest action was apparently in connection to the R17.5-million donated by Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) to the community in 2010.

During their demonstrations, not only did residents demand answers concerning to the expenditure of the funds but fingers were pointed at local Induna, Silias Cele.

‘Our leadership never informs us about any developments in the area or what happened to the money. They do as they please and when we ask about it, no one answers,’ said resident Njabulo Gumede.

‘This is only beneficial to their people while the poor are being neglected,’ he said.

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Residents also complained about the RBM mine which is to be built in the area.

They accused the local leadership of prioritising their ‘close friends’ for job opportunities.

‘The community doesn’t know what’s going on with the mine or if we will be able to get jobs there.

We want to know which skills will be needed so we can prepare ourselves for work there,’ continued Gumede.

Residents also said the community is troubled by the plans to upgrade the community main road.

‘They sent out a tender for the road without telling the community. We also don’t want a gravel road but tarred like other communities,’ they said.

According to residents, not only have they repeatedly requested a meeting with the leadership, but have sent a letter to RBM regarding their concerns.

KwaNdaya community leadership response

According to KwaNdaya Reserve leader Induna Silias Cele, some funds have been allocated to community events and a bursary scheme.

‘People who come to our community meeting know what is happening. Those involved in this protest are making this a political issue and have personal agendas.

‘We have always been transparent about money for the community and always inform our people about plans for it. They know about the KwaMkhwanazi Bursary Fund and other projects,’ he said.

Regarding the mining job opportunities, Cele said the tribal authority has received hundreds of CVs following a public meeting where residents were informed about work opportunities.

‘The mine has not yet been built, that’s why the tribal leadership opened a bursary fund to ensure our people have skills,’ said Cele

Road upgrade

Cele said the road upgrade is being done by RBM and the tender was won by Scribante.

‘This road is in a terrible state and it will help the community when it’s upgraded. We can’t deny the community a proper road because some are demanding it to be tarred.

‘At the moment we want the road to be in a good state for all motorists, while government conducts an environmental impact assessment to build a tarred road,’ explained Cele.

Zululand Observer was unable to contact the spokesperson RBM.

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