MOTSHANE CHURCHES, HOMES FACE EVICTION

MOTSHANE – Churches and homesteads built after December 2011 when then Chief of Motshane Sipho Shongwe died, face eviction.

This was the announcement made by acting chief of the area Mdokwane Shongwe, who was represented by Jameson Shongwe at Ndvuma Royal Kraal yesterday morning.
About 150 residents converged at the homestead of the late chief in the presence of about seven police officers for the much-anticipated pronouncement.

There were concerns before the meeting at the swelling illegal homesteads and churches in the area, with residents blaming the two warring factions within the Shongwe clan. However, the difference yesterday was that when the pronouncement was made, both sets of warring factions seated side by side for a rare show of support on the subject of the day. It was, however, not clear who among the two warring factions was responsible for the illegal allocation of land to people at the area, despite a ruling that stopped anyone from allocating land at Ndvuma chiefdom. 

There were fears prior to the meeting that tempers could fly in the face of the existing two centres of power in the area. Credit though should go to the police who ensured that the two Shongwe factions met before the actual commencement of the community meeting where the warning against mushrooming homesteads and churches was made, to the amusement of the residents.

“The reason we called the meeting today was to address the circulating concerns from the community over the mushrooming of homesteads and churches. This is despite the fact that a ruling was made from the Ludzidzini stopping anyone from allocating land to anyone. In fact, it was the late chief who was first to note that the land should be kept for the future generations to come. We therefore warn those doing it to stop now,” Shongwe said amidst cheers from the women section of the residents who had come for the meeting.

PACK AND GO
Jameson Shongwe said the message from the acting chief Mdokwane, was to inform those who might have acquired land post the death of the late chief to vacate immediately.
“The Ludzidzini indvuna made it clear that we should tell all those who might have acquired land outside the relevant authorities to pack their belongings and go,” he said.

When quizzed after the meeting what would become of those structures built on land acquired illegally, he said they could stay at their own risk, because when the new chief ascend to his position, he might decide to evict them.
The residents appreciated the pronouncement on mushrooming homesteads and lamented at how this practice had rendered the area ungovernable.

One Bongani Hlophe wanted to know what would become of those who had acquired land illegally.  He said the late chief left only eight churches that had applied for land in the area, but alleged that the list had increased now, blaming the warring factions for allocating people land for personal gain.





 

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: