Land claim to be investigated

One of the gifts Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza gave to the Governor of Cuando Cubango of Angola General Higino Carneiro at a send-off dinner in Hazyview

Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza holds a meeting with Mshengu-Tshabalala Cooperative Mhlongamvula Clan and CPA

Premier Mabuza instructs Committee on Traditional Leadership Disputes and Claims to investigate the Mshengu-Tshabalala Cooperative Mhlongamvula Clan land dispute

Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza has instructed the Committee on Traditional Leadership Disputes and Claims to investigate a land dispute involving the Mshengu-Tshabalala Cooperative Mhlongamvula Clan, which demands to be recognized by the Community Property Association [CPA] and the government.

This follows a meeting Premier Mabuza had with the Mshengu-Tshabalala Cooperative Mhlongamvula Clan and the CPA in Mbombela on Tuesday, 04 August 2015, in an attempt to resolve the dispute dating back as early as year 2000.

The meeting was also attended by Agriculture Rural Development and Environmental Affairs MEC Andries Gamede, as well as some officials from the national Department of Rural Development and Land Reform.

The Mshengu-Tshabalala Cooperative Mhlongamvula Clan told the Premier that ever since the land was restituted to the CPA, they had not been involved in any activities as the chieftaincy of the area, and that since the term of the CPA had expired last year there were delays in electing a new one.

They further told the Premier that their chieftaincy was not recognized by the provincial government regardless of many efforts they had made to engage the relevant authorities.

At the same time, the CPA committee told the Premier that they were working the land productively and appreciated government’s intervention by assisting them to be able to work the land.

The Premier explained that as a practice he would refer the matter to the provincial Committee on Traditional Leadership Disputes and Claims to investigate before he could give an opinion on the matter.

“I am hearing about this matter for the first time, although we publicly called on people who feel they have issues with their chieftaincy to appear to make submission to this committee [Committee on Traditional Leadership Disputes and Claims].

“While the committee is still busy with this matter, I want to warn the CPA to stay away from issues relating to the traditional leadership, as this could cause the unnecessary conflict. The CPA should continue to work the land and fight poverty,” said Mabuza.


He explained that out of 183 cases received by the Committee on Traditional Leadership Disputes and Claims of people claiming to be the traditional leaders, only two were successful, and that the two have since been issued with the certificates as rightful traditional leaders and inauguarated.

The Premier has further given a deadline to the election of the new committee for the CPA saying it was unacceptable to extend without the necessary explanation