By Celani Sikhakhane
A 60-year-old widow from a village near Ulundi in northern KwaZulu-Natal is living in fear after a traditional leader allegedly invaded her rural land and sold plots of it for R30,000 each.
Nomusa Mbatha-Dunge, affectionately known as Mbatheni in the village of Ndonsa, got the shock of her life last week when she found headmen and members of the Mpungose clan destroying the poles fencing her land.
She said when her son asked what they were doing, they threatened to beat him and made death threats.
Mbatheni said: ” After seeing the violent situation, I went to them and asked them what they were doing on our land. They told me they bought it from the acting traditional leader, Inkosi Zini Mpungose.
“At that moment, even SAPS members were organised to guard them. I told the police this is my land that was left to us by my late husband. The police said their commander instructed them to monitor the process, but there was no letter stating that they should do that,” said Mbatheni.
She said things turned worse when Mpungose arrived.
Mbatheni said Mpungose didn’t want to listen to her but instead instructed the people to continue to invade the land and prepare to build their houses.
“I told her that this is my land and it was officially given to my husband through the tribal council processes and we even have papers. She didn’t want to look at the papers; instead, she shouted at me and said how come I should own such huge hectares of land?
“She then instructed the headmen to work with those invading my land. I got sick and almost cried because I’m being abused just because I’m an old woman. They are taking advantage that my husband has passed away.”
The land was meant as an investment for her children.
“I am no longer feeling safe because it is clear that I am going to be killed for my land. Even my husband was killed for our cattle that were stolen,” said Mbatheni.
She said she had been told those invading her land had already paid Mpungose R30,000 per plot.
Mbatheni has reported the matter to the police and the Ingonyama Trust.
Her plight comes after the Commission for Gender Equality issued a report saying discriminatory rules and patriarchal norms pose significant barriers for women in rural communities.
Mpungose denied taking money from people who wanted plots of land.
By the time of publication, the Ingonyama Trust and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs had not responded to Scrolla. Africa’s questions.
Police spokesperson Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo said: “Police in Ulundi are investigating a case of malicious damage to property following an incident in which a 60-year-old woman allegedly went to her site at Ndonsa area and, on arrival, found a group of people damaging the fence.”
Pictured above: Members of the Mpungose clan have invaded land that belongs to the widowed Nomusa Mbatha-Dunge.
Source: Supplied
