Dukuduku land protests in Mtuba

IN protest against their alleged removal from land they have occupied since 1994, Dukuduku communities marched to Mtubatuba Municipality and handed CoGTA MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube a memorandum of grievances.

Mandla Gumede, the IFP’s (Inkhatha Freedom Party) Mtubatuba Constituency Treasurer, said the protestors, both IFP supporters and others, are angry at their forced removal from their farming land.

The Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Department has drawn a line across the R618 and ordered the relocation of all dwellers from the St Lucia side of the line.

This is owing to the land’s proximity to the wetlands and St Lucia estuary, which falls under the iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage Site.

Furthermore, the Dukuduku Forest is still state protected land, the settlement of which is a contentious issue among conservationists.

Gumede says the dwellers were granted permission to occupy the land through the traditional structure and believes their removal is politically motivated. ‘The protestors say they did not vote for the MEC and she does not represent their interests,’ said Gumede.

CoGTA ordered the demarcation of the land in November, which resulted in the assault of those laying the boundary packs by members of the community. One person who refused to leave the land he was occupying was allegedly killed in November.

According to Gumede, those tasked with moving the dwellers off the land did so with force and are responsible for his death.

However, the Mtubatuba SAPS Station Commander disputed those claims, saying the only incident relating to the Dukuduku land issue was the assault of workers laying boundary packs.

Members of the Dukuduku community responsible for the workers’ assault were arrested and their cases are currently going through the courts.

@TamlynJolly