At least 20 houses were burnt down and two people shot in clashes between two northern KwaZulu-Natal communities, police said on Monday.
Captain Charmaine Struwig said fighting broke out between groups from the Mhlwazini area and Magangangozi area at midday on Sunday. ”Gunshots were exchanged and two people were shot.”
The injured people were taken to hospital, where they were reported to be in a stable but serious condition.
A crowd then burnt down at least 20 homes in the Magangangozi area.
The dispute between the two communities started in 1989. Between February and March this year, five people were killed in the conflict.
”No arrests have been made yet but four unlicensed firearms have been seized by police and a public violence case has been opened,” said Struwig.
Community leaders in the Magangangozi area claim they had permission to build new houses along the Cathedral Peak boundary line. Leaders from the Mhlwazini dispute this.
The tense situation last week prompted Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife to advise tourists to be cautious when travelling in the area. Ezemvelo spokesperson Jeff Gaisford said there was a land issue between two communities living near the Didimo camp in Cathedral Peak.
Late on Monday afternoon, Khulani Mkhize, Ezemvelo chief executive, announce the closure of the camp. ”Although these communities have indicated that they have no interest in the tourists who use the route, we are nevertheless concerned that the ongoing tension might involve tourists moving along the road through the community area,” he said.
”The safety of our visitors is not negotiable and closing Didima at this time is purely a precautionary measure in case there is an escalation of violence that could spill over into the Park,” he said.
He said staff were contacting those who had booked and that the camp would reopen on March 26.
Struwig said police were monitoring the situation closely and that there had been meetings with the warring factions during the course of Monday, but no resolution had been reached.
”We have a huge police presence, not only at the scene, but also on tourist routes,” she said.
By late afternoon no further incidents had been reported. — Sapa