Residents of Mpindweni outside Mthatha in the Eastern Cape are accusing their traditional leader of selling their land.
It is alleged that Chief Dalubuhle Ndamase sold a piece of land to people from outside the area. The community use the land for economic activities.
Zolile Xhala from the ward committee says they reported the issue to tribal authorities but their chief failed to attend the meetings.
“They are building houses in that land. We use gravel soil from that land to make roads here in Mpindweni and even the bridge in Mthatha. We went to him to ask if he knows the people that are building houses on our land. He said he can’t say he doesn’t and cannot say he knows them because it will stir conflict in the community.”
The Eastern Cape Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) Chairperson Mwelo Nonkonyane, says people have a right to land but there are legal procedures that need to be followed.
“We are really concerned. It’s quite obvious to us that the procedures that are entrenched in the allocation of land to people have not been properly followed our people have got a right to know who is allocated land and they are part and parcel of the decision making process”
The SABC was unable to solicit a response from chief Ndamase, despite numerous attempts.
