Guy Rogers ENVIRONMENT & TOURISM EDITOR

POLICE on the Transkei Wild Coast are investigating the brutal assault of a chief following a heated meeting over the granting of a mining licence in the area.

Amadiba Chief Ndabazakshe Baleni was set upon and beaten severely while returning home from the meeting. Police said yesterday two suspects had been arrested and a major swoop was planned this morning on Mahaha location near Xolobeni in search of a further five suspects.

Chief Baleni was one of the guests of honour at the meeting last Friday with Minerals and Energy Minister Buyelwa Sonjica and OR Tambo district mayor Zoleka Capa.

The meeting was staged on open ground near Xolobeni School, in the Kwanyana Block, on the northern Wild Coast, where the department has awarded an Australian developer the right to mine.

About 3000 people attended the meeting – described by anti-mining lobby group Sustaining the Wild Coast (SWC) as “a sea of opposition”, and the department of minerals and energy as “a mosaic of ideas”.

Mzamba police Inspector Wiseman Magana said the chief had apparently been returning alone from this function to his house in Sigidi when he was set upon.

The chief is known to support the controversial mining project and the inspector said police information was that the suspects were opposed to the mine.

Amadiba Crisis Committee spokesman Mzamo Dlamini said they believed the incident was a set-up.

Chief Baleni, sounding weak, said he had been discharged from hospital on Sunday.

An SWC spokesman said the meeting had been used “as a platform to hurl insults” at anti-mining lobby representatives.

Posted on August 20th, 2008
Filed under: Newspaper and Media