Village feud deepens as land claim drags on for 20 years
The community is split into two factions
About 22 years ago the community of Auckland village, near Alice, were celebrating a potential land restitution deal involving 41 families who had farmed the land since the late 19th century. The claim was for 111ha.
Today the community is split into two factions.
“On Friday some of the stakeholders met in the community hall in Auckland,” Judy Matye, spokesperson of one faction, said.
“Most of our people did not attend the meeting because they fear for their lives. Back in 1992, people opposing us smashed our houses and stole our cars, trucks and cows.
“Three Aucklanders died. We were left with nothing.”
Nafcoc’s Malibongwe Mtuzula is an independent adviser who works with both factions. He said despite progress, everyone involved would go back to the start because the traditional authority in the region was the royal family and final decisions rested with them.
Victor Stemele, spokesperson for the traditional authority, said with two factions now claiming the land, a solution would need more consultation.
Matye said the current complaint was about Eastern Cape land affairs giving Auckland’s forest area to sawmills without any payment to the claimants. She hoped that land affairs, which had a meeting with the whole community on Friday last week, was on the verge of a solution.
“They promised to visit us again this week to sort this out. Unfortunately we have had countless promises broken. But let us pray that this time we reach a solution.”
Carlo Tito is a shareholder in furniture maker Amatola Woods in Keiskammahoek.
He said after 18 months of negotiations with land affairs, he was given written approval to harvest timber on a section of forest known as 778, part of the area under claim.
The Dispatch has seen the letter, dated March 16.
Tito believes one of the things that prompted land affairs to award his company the harvesting rights was employment in the Keiskammahoek village.
“Nearly two years ago a fire destroyed half of our buildings and plant, and 130 people lost their jobs. Only five remained.
“We are now up to 30 and the Auckland pine will see another 100 full-time staff early in 2021.”
Auckland lawyer Tshepiso Ramphele, of Ramphele Attorneys, acts for Matye’s group of families. He said of Tito’s right to harvest timber on 778: “We have nothing against him, he did nothing wrong. He negotiated with the government. But it is wrong for land claims to allow people to harvest timber in a portion that is under claim.”
Mlungiseleli Jacob, spokesperson for the other Auckland faction, believes land affairs had given Tito rights to 777, the wrong land, but in the same area as 778.
This view is also held by father-daughter team John and Nadia Schenk, of Schenk Sawmills, who have harvested timber in the area for years.
Tito said he doubted this as he and land affairs had visited 778, not 777, and taken GPS readings, which confirmed the site was land affairs property.
Ramphele said: “We do not have any proof of fraud, but we are highlighting maladministration and a complete disregard for poor communities.”
Another problem, Matye said, was the absence of a land valuer, which she believed was deliberate.
“Why would the Eastern Cape Land Claims Commission delay appointing one until the socalled disagreement resolved?”
Matye said Auckland’s community wanted to sue the government and/or the individuals involved.
“We want to be repaid for our costs and the lost value of the use of the land over 22 years. Our stumbling block is funds.
Ramphele Attorneys is willing to lodge a court case for us but we do not have the money.”
A byproduct of the delay, Matye said, was that while officials obfuscated many claimants had died or been forced to quit the area.
“Four of the original six in my family have died. Only my father and aunt, both over 80, are alive and pursuing the claim. It is the same with the other 40 families.”
Matye said her hopes of a quick lawful resolution were fading as the court route looked more likely.
“In 2019, we were promised that the claim would be finalised in the first quarter of 2020. Now it has been moved to the last quarter of this financial year. People in authority don’t see anything wrong with a land claim that has been in the books for more than 22 years.”