Pongola under land claim

A MASSIVE land claim involving 399 properties in Pongola, lodged on behalf of the Mahlalela community, is currently under judgement.

If approved in its entirety, the claim would see both public and private residences, farms and businesses, including land owned by the Ingonyama Trust Board (ITB), being handed to the Mahlalela community.

Astounded by the size of the claim, a former Pongola resident who asked not to be named brought the information to the Zululand Observer’s attention.

‘Although the document states that notice of the land claim has been published in numerous publications across the region, no one seems to know when or where it was published,’ said the source.

The document lists the properties included in the claim, which are privately owned farms, family trusts, church-owned land, municipal-owned land, working businesses such as the sugar mill and recreational areas such as the golf course.

The claim reportedly goes so far as to include public toilets within the town of Pongola.

‘The entire town of Pongola is included in this land claim,’ said the source.

Acknowledging the claim, the provincial Department of Rural Development and Land Reform said since the claim is sub judice, the department is ‘unable to engage further until such time that the court has finalised its process’.

A number of farms in and around Pongola were handed to communities earlier this year following successful land claims.

One such farm, a working game farm and lodge, was recently sold to the Ntshangase Community after its successful claim.

The former owners were negotiating a rent back agreement which would see them continue to run the farm and its operations.