BLF locked out of Sodwana Bay Lodge

THE dispute over the management of Sodwana Bay Lodge intensified after members of

Black Life First (BLF) were locked out of the premises.

Three weeks ago, about 30 BLF supporters occupied the lodge rooms and reportedly forced management, the Scott family, to hand over keys to the establishment in a bid to reverse 'apartheid-style leases'.

The matter landed in the Durban High Court, and lodge management was granted a court interdict to evict the group members from the facility.

However, the BLF has refused to leave and said they were given a year's lease by the tribal authority which governs the Sodwana land and represents the local community.

Sodwana Bay Lodge general manager Herman Combrinck told the ZO on Friday that the BLF had continued to ignore the court interdict.

'So, when they left to buy groceries last week, we just locked the gates and did not allow them back in.

'We are still set to appear in court over this matter,' said Combrinck.

BLF chairperson Zizamela Dlamini claimed the 'former' management was starting a war.

'We have a year's lease to use the facility as and when we please.

'We left two of our members behind to run the lodge, and when we called last week they said they had been locked out.

'When we arrived at the lodge we found armed guards at the gate, and we are outraged that we are being threatened with violence, just like in the apartheid times.

'We since organised a march to the lodge, which was peaceful. We are set to appear in court on 26 May, and we are waiting for our lease to be contested.

'We vow not to take this abuse lying down.' Sodwana Bay Lodge is owned by multiple shareholders, including Club Leisure, the community and the Scotts - who were given a 20-year lease to manage the facility.

Zikhali Tribal Council representative Maqhawe Zondo said the community decided to transfer the hotel management to the BLF after a dispute with the Scott family over shares.

'It was then concluded that they did not follow due process, and the shares were revoked and given back to the community.

'The community then approached BLF to use the facility for their political gatherings, and BLF was given a lease of 12 months.

'All this was already decided on, but when it was time to hand over, we found that management of the lodge decided to challenge the matter.'