A COURT building in Mtubatuba belonging to the Mpukunyoni Tribal Authority was set alight between 11pm and midnight on Thursday in what is believed to have been an act of retaliation by angered locals.
After receiving the call out, five firefighters from the Mtubatuba Fire Department arrived at the scene near Africa Centre just after 11pm, where they found the offices already enveloped in flames.
‘On our arrival, two of the court’s officers had saved equipment like computers and furniture from the burning building, but no one was hurt,’ said Station Officer Blessing Bukhosini.
‘We extinguished the fire using our fire engine between 11.15pm and 2.31am on Friday morning.’
A source told the Zululand Observer that members of the tribal authority’s executive council had received threats throughout the week from striking employees of anthracite colliery Tendele Coal Mining outside Mtubatuba.
The protestors reportedly vowed that they would retaliate if traditional leaders did not withdraw from negotiations with the mine’s management.
According to the KwaMsane SAP, Nkosi Mkhwanazi’s office, as well as the tribal authority’s court room and an administration room were burnt down.
‘We are currently investigating a case of malicious damage to property,’ said KwaMsane SAP spokesperson Jabulani Mdletshe.
‘But we cannot comment on any connection between the incident and the strikers at this stage.’
Mdletshe said no arrests have been made so far.
The tribal authority was planning to relocate the court to a newly constructed building in close proximity, in which case the ‘old building’ was to become a facility to manufacture and distribute washable sanitary pads to disadvantaged young women in the community.
‘LifeLine Zululand was about to enter into a contractual agreement with the Bayethe Trust of King Zwelithini to set up a production facility for washable sanitary pads,’ said Lifeline Executive Director Sue Stephenson.
‘It’s very sad that the building earmarked for this worthy cause was burnt down,’ Stephenson said.
