FUTURE expansion of the City of uMhlathuze could be severely impacted by a substantial land restitution claim lodged with the Land Claims Commission last month.
Massive tracts of land in the city and surrounds is at stake as the Mambuka Tribal Authority seek ownership of (Reserve 6) property from which they were forcibly evicted pre the 1994 democracy.
Compensatory land they were given at Ntambanana is described in their application as ‘wholly inadequate’.
The claim has, however, not yet been Gazetted and city Mayor Cllr Mdu Mhlongo said at Friday’s Exco meeting all proposed developments would continue until such time as the claim has legal standing.
‘Potentially, this is a crippling land claim since it encompasses half of Richards Bay.
‘It must be borne in mind, however, that the claim is against the State, not the municipality.’
The new land claim, which adds to the five already with the Land Claims Commission, comes as the city starts work next week on the long awaited Aquadene Human Settlements Project.
This is situated on land now being contested by the Mambuka Tribal Authority.
Other claims still in process include Madlazini/Mambuka, Mkhwanazi, eSikhaleni, Mndaba Group and Mbonambi.
Besides obtaining legal opinion, the city is in regular contact with the Regional Land Claims Commissioner, as well as the claimants to foster cooperation and understanding.
The matter of illegal land invasion and unlawful land distribution, as in Madlazini Village, is also under ongoing scrutiny.
In addition to the city, present occupants and owners of the land threatened by the new Mambuka claim includes farmers, private owners, the State, Transnet and Mondi.
