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Tshatshu Traditional Authority claims Western Thembuland


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Tshatshu Traditional Authority claims Western Thembuland

3rd February 2022

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/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development met with the AmaTshatshu Traditional Council at Gwatyu yesterday to receive their input on their land claim.
 
The Chairperson of the committee, Inkosi Zwelivelile Mandela, informed the traditional council and communities attending the public hearings that the committee was there, together with the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development, to hear their views on who are the rightful beneficiaries of the land.
 
The representative of the Tshatshu Royal House, Mr Xhanti Madolo, shared their dissatisfaction with the Restitution of Land Rights Act (No.22 of 1994), specifically the 1913 cut-off date. He gave a history of the colonial displacement of the Tshatshu people in Western Thembuland. This displacement is the basis for their claim to the land stretching from the western banks of the Tsomo River to the Kei River and on to the Stormberg mountains, as well as to the Zwart Kei River from its source at Winterberg, down to Kogel Kop, across the Rhenoster Hoek into the Klaas Smit River and into Bamboos Berg.
 
The southern boundary covers the areas of the Winterberg mountains, the amaThole Mountains and from the source of the Thomas River. Prince Madolo informed the committee that the claim was not just for the Gwatyu, but for the whole of the Western Thembuland.
 
The Tshatshu Traditional Council urged the committee to consider a revision of the restitution laws, with special attention to the 1913 cut-off date. The Tshatshu Royal House informed the committee that they do not want government to issue individual title deeds, but the land should be held by the Trust under the supervision of the Traditional Council.  
 
There were presentations from various members of the community and organised formations, which provided insights into the effect of the current situation and explored mechanisms to resolve the impasse.
 
The committee expressed its disappointment at the protesting group of former farm dwellers who had organised themselves into a Communal Property Association (CPA). The committee noted that the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development has not registered a CPA for Gwatyu. The former farmworkers protested about the fact that the committee met with traditional councils and offered an opportunity to “lessees” to address the committee. As a result, they walked out of the meeting.
 
Mr Bhekedubo Xola representing the Gwatyu Farmers Association appealed for assistance in developing farming. He informed the committee that they required assistance for water, fencing, feed for the cattle and the development of the roads.
 
Mr Forest Feni of Thembani Location brought a map to the committee and informed them that the area is a residential area and needs to be more developed. He also informed the committee that the community was against the move of turning Thembani Location, which was gazetted as a residential area in 2004, back into a traditional council’s area.
 
Ms Busi Mdiyede appealed to the committee for assistance to obtain jobs for the youth. She also requested assistance to obtain land to farm and graze cattle. She also informed the committee that due to there being no electricity in the area, they are not technologically advanced.

 

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Issued by The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Inkosi Zwelivelile Mandela
 

 

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