wilderness
Nicky Barker
Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry Kader Asmal applied this week for a court order to evict a community illegally living in a proclaimed wilderness area in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
The land in question is the Ntendeka Wilderness Area in Ngome Forest, 5 230ha of mixed coastal forest 70km east of Vryheid. It is home to the only protected piece of this rare forest type in the world, as well as a number of endemic species.
Two years ago the reserve was the subject of a land claim, as a small portion of the original Buthelezi tribe had been moved from the area in 1966 to allow the reserve to achieve protected status. Former residents applied to the Land Claims Commission to have the land restored to them. In consultation with the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, King Goodwill Zwelithini and the leader of the Buthelezi tribe, they agreed on alternative land for settlement.
The Department of Land Affairs supplied the families with tents to live in on serviced land adjacent to the reserve while the community leaders chose a suitable alternative. Taxpayers’ money was set aside to buy four contiguous farms.
However, in November last year, the community of approximately 900 people informed the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry that they no longer wished to move, and that they wanted to continue to inhabit the forest. Without waiting for a response from the department, they began tearing down fences and preparing to build a permanent settlement.
This move has caused alarm among conservation groups, as the reserve enjoys the highest conservation status possible according to international law. Says Keith Cooper, executive chair of the Wildlife Society of South Africa: “We are concerned about the integrity of the wilderness area. Neither the department of forestry nor the department of environment has made any moves to stop this illegal land invasion, and we are afraid this will set a dangerous precedent.”
According to one of the community members, 13 families are keen to move to their new sites but they are being intimidated to stay by a newly appointed community leader. He hinted that the about-face by the new community leadership concealed a political agenda. In meetings, the leaders have been unable to furnish valid reasons for their change of attitude.
Whatever the motive for reneging on long- term and recorded decisions, the community is in violation of the law. The Department of Forestry and Water Affairs has been severely criticised for being too lenient with the community, and for taking too long in getting the matter settled.
A wildlife official commented: “The irony here is that [Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism] Pallo Jordan was able to halt a developer from destroying the habitat of the Brenton Blue butterfly, a species found only near Knysna. But here is an entire ecosystem in danger of being ploughed up, and he allows it.”