Tensions are running high at Hole in the Wall on the Wild Coast over the planned construction of an R80 million hotel on communal land used by the amaTshezi people.

Police were called in on Thursday when a group of angry residents from Mthonjana village tried to stop the grading of land earmarked for the hotel.

The land which overlooks the famous tourist landmark has on it two homesteads, two cultivated fields and four graves, considered sacred by some of the amaTshezi people.

On Monday, about 350 Mthonjana residents gathered near the kraal at one of the homesteads for a meeting with the developers, Incopho Projects Consortium. The meeting was hastily convened by Chief Ngwenyathi Phali of the Tshezi Traditional Authority.

It is alleged that the developers did not consult the community, including those whose homes are affected, before they came to turn the first sod.

After several hours of heated discussions, it was eventually agreed the development could go ahead, but only after the matter had been dealt with "in the traditional way".

"Six years ago one of the people who wanted to build this hotel made an offer to one of the elderly people here ? now all of a sudden we saw them digging in our land," said Zweliyatshukuma Mgwali, 66, whose father's grave is inside the earmarked piece of land.

"We welcome development but it has to come in a respectful manner because this land may never be returned to our community."

Tshezi Traditional Authority spokesperson Zola Makaula claimed that communal land was under the rule of chiefs and the community and that any development of the land had to be done in agreement with the chiefs and the community.

KSD Ward 23 councillor Nkosinathi Mvunge, who was accused of colluding with the developers, said an environmental impact assessment had disapproved of the use of land initially given to the developers for building a hotel.

"They had to be moved to the land that is still occupied by two families," said Mvunge.

An irate Nongqinile Cetywayo, who is 60 and lives with her six children and husband in her two mud rondavels wanted to know "how can they just come and try to evict us from our forefathers' land, as if we are dirt?"

"Cetywayo, our great-grandfather, is buried here ? my husband moved on instruction by his father to come and take care of the family's ancestral grave site," she said.

Her uncle Mbanya Cetywayo, 80, one of the oldest men in the village, accused an Incopho director of trying to "trick" them out of their land.

Incopho chief executive Mandisi Qaba said the whole problem was due to a "communication breakdown" and promised that it would be sorted out with the concerned community.

A follow-up meeting for all stakeholders will be held on Thursday at the home of Chief Phali.

Coffee Bay police station commissioner Captain Nyameko Ngum described Monday's situation in the area as volatile due to the recent developments on the land.

"We have intervened to ensure that the situation does not turn violent," said Ngum.

Daily Dispatch
Publisher: I-Net Bridge
Source: I-Net Bridge