Cop shop outcry

RELATIONS between the Head of Mhlana Traditional Authority, iNkosi Mbusowabathethwa Mthethwa and uMfolozi Local Municipality remain strained over the delay in the approval of a police station in Dondotha.

INkosi Mthethwa told the Zululand Observer he was disturbed by the municipality’s approach to the matter which suggested they were not worried about crime levels in Dondotha.

‘I had expected that by now a decision would have been taken to approve the building of a police station, since the land belongs to them.

‘INkosi Mthethwa, a crime fighter in his own right, identified a need for a police station in the early 1980s, and according to him, this was approved, after several requests.

‘Everyone knows that Dondotha has been a hub for criminal activities with stock theft, car hijackings and housebreaking on the increase,’ said Mthethwa who recently had his car stolen while it was parked inside his yard.

According to iNkosi Mthethwa, the police station will not only serve Dondotha, but the whole of the KwaMhlana area, which has more than 40 reserves and is one of the biggest traditional authorities in Zululand.

INkosi Mthethwa said he was shocked to learn how the municipality responded to this newspaper (Zululand Observer), when this story was first reported in July this year.

‘Their response did not indicate they were as worried about the crime affecting our people the same way we do,’ he said.

Municipality responds

Meanwhile, uMfolozi Municipal Manager, Khulumokwakhe Gamede said that they had taken the matter to Council, which resolved there was no objection to the building of a police station.

‘That is as far as we go, but the date on when the project is expected to begin, lies with the relevant departments concerned. As as you know, we don’t fund police stations.

‘The misunderstanding that iNkosi Mthethwa has could be attributed to the fact that he was not part of Council when these matters were discussed.

‘But the good news is that as from our next Council meeting, scheduled for 28 August, all amakhosi residing under uMfolozi Municipality will be invited to attend Council meetings.

‘Amakhosi who have been identified by the MEC for Coorperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, are: iNkosi Mthethwa of Mhlana Traditional Authority and iNkosi Mhloleni Mthiyane of Sokhulu Traditional Authority.

However, representation from Mbonambi Traditional Authority was the only one the MEC omitted due to unresolved issues in that traditional authority.

‘This will be the first sitting of our Council in the presence of amakhosi, and this is in line with section 81 of the Municipal Structures Act, which says all traditional authorities may participate through their leaders identified in terms of subsection 2 in the proceedings of Council,’ he said.

An official from the South African Police Services, who spoke to the Zululand Observer on condition of anonymity, said he was aware that the municipality had approved the police station, but no letter of confirmation has been received by the Police Ministry.