Fight for grazing land continues
Battle for access to Two Trees Farm continues with picket outside government department offices
The Mlungisi Farmers ’ Association is still fighting to be allowed access to Two Trees Farm as their livestock grazing land, and have been trying to speak to public works department MEC Lubalalo Madikizela since they submitted a petition of demands in July.
The Rep reported (“Picket, petition for access to farm ”, July 10) that members of the association had picketed outside the regional public works department offices to submit a petition demanding that grazing land be made available for their livestock.
Last Thursday members of the association, supported by a Komani-based civic organisation, picketed outside the department offices, demanding a response to their petition or provision to meet Madikizela be made swiftly. At the centre of the farmers
’ grievances is the occupancy of Two Trees Farm, en route to Fincham s Nek, which they had
’ indicated interest in occupying if it were available, to both the local and provincial government some years ago.
However, when the former occupant moved off the farm someone else occupied it, without public works (which owns the property) making public that it was available for leasing.
Farmers association chair
’
Zola Magoqoza said there had been no response from the provincial public works department since the submission of their petition two months ago. We have come to find out
“why our petition, which we submitted on July 7 containing our grievances and demands, has received no response. We are asking that MEC Madikizela come and listen to us since we have not received assistance about the grazing land issue.”
Magoqoza indicated they had given the department seven days to respond, but it had not. It has been more than a
“month without hearing from them. Today we want to shake things up and find out why noone has given our petition the attention it deserves. We hoped to meet with the department s
’ regional director, Zamila Kalako, who indicated he was working out of town.
He said he was not expecting us because they apparently responded via our attorney.”
The chair said the response to their attorney was that the
department had taken the matter up with the courts.
Public works spokesperson Vuyokazi Mbanjwa confirmed that the matter was receiving
legal attention and that the department would wait for the legal process to take place before making any pronouncements.