Land sales illegal - court

Ndzunzda-Mabhoko traditional leader has been selling stands since 2018.

- Warren Mabona

The Mpumalanga High Court in Middelburg has ruled in favour of the Thembisile Hani local municipality in Mpumalanga, ordering people and the traditional leader who illegally sold them plots on municipal land to leave.

However, many of the people still living in Magadangana village say they have nowhere to go.

They say they had spent the little money they had and even took out loans to build their homes.

Judas Mahlangu, leader of the Ndzundza-Mabhoko Traditional Authority, had been selling stands on municipal land since 2018 for at least R2 500 each.

The battle between the municipality and Mahlangu has been ongoing for six years.

The area is officially known as the Farm Vlaklaagte.

Those who bought stands from Mahlangu will be forced to leave when the eviction order is handed over to the sheriff of the court.

This follows three failed legal attempts by Mahlangu to claim he had the right to sell the land.

The municipality found out in June 2019 that stands were being sold on its land, earmarked for government housing.