A Limpopo community which is pushing to build a massive job creation project has accused government of blocking the implementation of its proposed economic zone.
Manoke Traditional Authority (MTA), under Chief BK Manoke in Burgersfort, has earmarked three farms to build 500 low-cost houses, a manganese open-cast mine, solar power plant, a shopping mall and an agricultural enterprise.
MTA spokesperson Thabo Mabasa has accused the Fetakgomo-Tubatse local municipality and the department of land reform and rural development of withholding the approval of the project despite a series of meetings to resolve the issue.
He said the targeted land is now being invaded and the municipality and law-enforcement were not doing anything to prevent it.
"It has been seven years since we approached the government with our five-year strategic development plan considering that we are a poor community. We want to create sustainable jobs for us as well as generations to come rather than wait for government," Mabasa said.
He said the development was estimated to cost over R5bn. Mabasa further said the community had already found investors to fund some of the planned developments.
"We had investors who were willing to develop those low- cost houses, solar power plant and a shopping mall but because of the delays in approving and subsequent rezoning of the farm . people are now invading the area because it remains unoccupied."
The Manoke community resides at Apiesdorindraai 298KT, Viljoenshoop 301KT and Alverton 274K farms that are located 3km northeast of the Burgersfort town.
Department of land reform and rural development spokesperson Avhashoni Magada denied that his department was delaying the approval of the development.
"We are doing our best to resolve it. We have since established that the people that they accuse of invading the land are also claiming a piece of the land in question," he said.
Magada said the department will not approve Manoke planned projects until all the land disputes are settled.
The community has further accused the municipality of planning to turn the land into a cemetery.
Sowetan has seen a number of correspondence between the municipality and department of land reform and rural development.
In one of the letters dated 2017, the MTA requested meeting with the department after accusing the local municipality of transferring certain portions of land without consulting the Manoke community.
Municipal spokesperson Thabiso Mokwena said he was still waiting for a full report detailing progress and challenges on the MTA land issue.
"The municipality is scheduled to meet with all stakeholders in due course," he said.
Mabasa said the MTA has requested the municipality to put on hold any activities on any of the transferred portions until the authority, municipality and the department meet to find amicable solutions to the impasse. He insisted that the development will create over 5,000 jobs.
According to MTA's strategic plan, the development is aimed at restoring the African culture and value system, turn the land into a shelter and assets for food, prepare capable and skilled generation for the fourth industrial revolution.
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