According to reports the Mavundla Tribal Authority (MTA) in the Gamalakhe area, near Margate, has been protesting against the fact that land claims, lodged against currently white-owned farms there, were rejected by the Land Claims Court of South Africa in February 2010.
The MTA drafted a memorandum of complaints and demands and addressed it to the Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform, Gugile Nkwinti, and to the Gamalakhe SAPS station commander. The MTA wanted to know why their relevant land claims were de-gazetted and they accused landowner, Len Pienaar of Lion Valley Farm, of “cruelty, violence, criminality and contempt towards the community”.
According to the MTA, Pienaar had shot at the Mavundla community’s “cattle, goats and people’s dogs” and that “some community members have escaped shooting by him”. The MTA said Pienaar had impounded their livestock and demanded money for the release of animals. Pienaar recently lost his on-farm plastic recycling factory in an alleged case of arson possibly related to MTA protest marches.
At its conclusion the MTA’s memorandum stated, “He [Pienaar] must leave before violence erupts, we urge that he leaves.”
Civil rights organisation, AfriForum, said allegations made against Pienaar by the MTA were “unfounded and untested in court”.
Chris Fourie, AfriForum’s Provincial Coordinator: KZN, said; “AfriForum suggested that if the community feels that Pienaar acted in a criminal way they should approach the SAPS.” The KZN Agricultural Union (Kwanalu) said it was aware of the conflicts in Gamalakhe.
Of the allegations against Pienaar in the MTA’s memorandum, Kwanalu’s CEO, Sandy la Marque, said; “These allegations will need to be tested through a legal process, however, some of the [MTA’s] statements appear to be quite inciteful.”
Kwanalu said the relevant government departments were responsible for helping the MTA understand and accept the Land Claims Court ruling.
“Kwanalu and its members have always recognised the need for land reform. However, this must take place within the confines of the law,” said La Marque. Fourie said his organisation was in the process of facilitating a meeting between all stakeholders and role players in the conflict to try and resolve the matter.
