RESIDENTS GRAB LAND ‘EFF STYLE’

PIGG’S PEAK – Residents of Malandalahle have given up years of waiting for land to be allocated by the municipality.

On Sunday, over 150 residents took over a portion of land which is said to be managed by the Pigg’s Peak Town Council. The land is situated at a place known as Umbhongamphisi under Ward I. Some of the residents did not hide their excitement and openly referred to their action as ‘land expropriation,’ similar to the one supported by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) of South Africa. EFF is a South African political party led by Julius Malema. The residents accused the town council, particularly councillors, of being slow in processing the allocation of plots.

Squatters

“We are forced to become squatters in a town we have lived in for many years,” said the residents. The residents used sticks to mark the plots but said this was the first step and that some residents had already started to use logs to divide their portions of land. One of the residents, Stan Dlamini, said over 150 residents had shown interest in acquiring land.  He said previously, the portion of land was under Chief Mnikwa of Hhelehhele, but this changed when the town began to develop into a municipality. Dlamini said the residents realised that their ward was not developing yet they were paying rates.

He said instead of developing the wards, the municipality was using the money to create projects which were not benefitting the residents. He said one of the projects, which he referred to as not useful, was a bypass road which was meant to divert delivery trucks. Dlamini said the truck drivers were not using this road because it was narrow. Dlamini also said the residents felt Eswatini Nation Land was better than the one under the municipality because inner councils were faster in allocating land. “They should give the land back to the chiefs,” said Dlamini.

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