A leader in an alleged land grab was selling off plots, claiming he was entitled to do so because “the land belonged to the Zulu people”.
Agronomist Edmund (Rusty) Roodt, who owns the 82 hectare concerned, said this in an urgent application in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Monday.
Judge Ron McLaren interdicted the respondent, Philani Bha Ndlovu, or anyone acting for him, from entering the property until finalisation of the matter on November 21.
Roodt submitted his title deeds for the land, which is in Winterskloof.
Roodt said he saw about 20 people measuring plots on October 29
and knocking in pegs, typical of land demarcation.
On Sunday, October 30 he saw a bulldozer levelling plots that were demarcated the previous day.
He contacted Ndlovu, who is a businessman, who came to the scene.
Roodt told the court that Ndlovu said: “The land belongs to the Zulu people... the land belongs to the Ngonyama Trust.”
Roodt said he told Ndlovu the land belonged to his company, Farmers Nuco, that neither Ndlovu or anyone else was entitled to demarcate plots and try to occupy the land.
“The respondent (Ndlovu) replied that he was selling the plots and that he was entitled to do so,” Roodt said.
He denied that Zulu people ever lived or owned any of the properties in Winterskloof.
A Chief Zondi lived about two km from Farmers Nuco.
“Ndlovu and those who believe they may simply grab another's land and that this land was previously part of Zondi's land are mistaken,” said Roodt.
Ndlovu, who represented himself in court, was told by Judge McLaren that he should file opposing affidavits on November 11 and that Roodt should file replying affidavits if needed by November 18. - Sapa