Allegations of Harassment, Intimidation and Violation of Basic Rights Will Be Heard
by Pasika Nontshiza, Qokolweni Mission, Mthatha

The lodging of the complaint with the Human Rights Commission by the Xholobeni communities over the application to mine sands deposit in their area is a brave and courageous action which needs to be supported by those who still have got conscience.

The lodging of the complaint couldn’t have come at a better time when those who claim to be ‘developers’ of the people are actually perpetrating acts of injustice against the locals.

To those who are not familiar with the Xholobeni area of the Mbizana local municipality, words are not sufficient to describe the beauty, splendour and therapeutic biodiversity existing in the area. This is the type of biodiversity which is calling out for protection against all costs; this is the type of endemism which the locals have proved to be capable of securing for the future generation through such projects like the Amadiba Hiking Trail and B&BS without damaging the environment. However, this does not seem to impress those who want to mine sand dunes and their allies.

The Xholobeni elders are unable to differentiate between an environmentally sound operation or environmentally insensitive one. The only thing they know, with certainty of course, is that the proposed mining, after it has extracted the dunes, will leave holes which will lead their livestock to drown and collapse. As the area is mostly gorges and estuaries, there is not much road surface, hence the concern from the elders that their livestock which shares space with humans will now run away from the road because of noise which will be caused by heavy machinery. The question is, to where? They demand to know. The situation became so severe when young men of the area reported of the warning from their parents that if they allow mining to operate, what would have been their sites when they grow up, will be gone. Communities in the area are also largely dependent on traditional medicine which is derived from the herbs endemic to the area. Even though growing of dagga could not be confirmed in the area, locals maintain they have got an inalienable right of growing whatever herb they feel is suitable for their health and that of other generations to come. That includes dagga. These statements were obtained voluntarily and under no duress or promise of a food parcel or money. However, it was not long after I have been visiting the area that my contacts requested that we meet in town, I must no longer come to Xholobeni because there are people watching each of their moves. When I inquired of the identity of those individuals threatening them, they spoke of a guy who overnight has moved from being a youth political activist to own a Isuzu 4×4 sponsored by the mining company telling people around that they must support mining as it is bringing jobs. Those who showed support towards this manipulation were rewarded with food parcels and those asking various questions were ostracized and labeled, ‘traitors’.

The above constitutes a litany of insults, vitriol and outright intimidation against those questioning the wisdom of the mining. The focus moved away from intimidating locals to insulting the integrity of the Eastern Pondoland King Mpondombini Sigcau and his wife, MaSobhuza Sigcau. AmaMpondo people are naturally respective of the authorities. They still regard their leader/s as someone endowed with divine power to lead them, so disrespect from a Pondo is unPondo, more especially towards the Great Place. So the insult is just a smokescreen to hide their evil intentions. AmaMpondo refer to their King as ‘Ndlunkulu’ (Great Place) as sign of respect towards their King. The same pertains for MaSobhuza. A Royal from the Kingdom of Swaziland, MaSobhuza represents a rare species of traditional leaders whose status and positions have not gone to their head. An anthropologist in her own right, she is respected along the length and breadth of EmaMpondweni and beyond. Strangely, all the insults and act of disrespect seem to be targeted at her. The reason is not hard to find: Her grasp of developmental issues do not find resonance with those who want to be millionaires overnight. A humble servant she is, her defence of the Pondo people threatens those who want to swindle AmaMpondo off their mineral wealth.

The provincial and local governments have not risen to the challenge of protecting locals against foreign influences. When the possibility of mining the sand dunes in Xholobeni and tolling the Wild Coast N2 far back in 2004/5, King Mpondombini Sigcau complained to the then premier of the Eastern Cape, Rev. Makhenkesi Stofile of the lack of communication by the provincial government to the Qawukeni Great Place of which Rev. Stofile seconded the then MEC for Economic Affairs and Environmental Affairs to handle the matter of improving relations between Bisho and Qawukeni. It was so embarrassing when in a subsequent meeting which was convened by Qawukeni when MEC Godongwana confessed that since he was seconded, he had not performed any of the duties he was assigned to do. This literally meant that AmaMpondo have been deprived of the opportunity to raise their concerns to the highest office. The much avowed principles of Batho Pele have been pushed on the backbencher in favour of mining. People are treated as objects not as human beings. The Batho Pele (People First) principles of Consultation, Courtesy, Information and Redress are foreign when it comes to mining in the area.

In a nutshell, the Xholobeni situation in academic terms could best be summed up by Robert Chamber, a well known author on development issues. Chambers (1983:109,110) talks of a ‘deprivation trap’ which many rural people in a situation similar to Xholobeni find themselves in. Chambers refers to ‘clusters of disadvantage’ afflicting rural households.

These clusters are; physical weakness; isolation; vulnerability and defencelesness. However, the first three disadvantages are being taken care by such government programmes like provision of social grants and welfare programmes. The only disadvantage needing assistance is one of defencelessness.

The Sustain the Wild Coast (SWC) should be commended for their sterling work within the communities of Xholobeni and other Wild Coast communities. That they could have the courage to take the communities into confidence and sensitize them about their rights, not in a philanthropic but in a developmental manner in determining their destiny deserves support.

Submitted for Purposes of Dissemination In Support Of Xholobeni community to The HRC By:

Pasika Nontshiza
Qokolweni Mission
Mthatha

NB

The author is a development consultant covering the entire Transkei but based in Mthatha. He has been responsible for the validation of the OR Tambo and Umzimvubu land claims contracted by the Regional Land Claims Commission (RLCC) in East London. His account of the above is a first hand account emanating from what is happening in Xholobeni. The account can be used for any purpose beneficial to the people of Xholobeni.

Posted on May 3rd, 2007
Filed under: Letters