Lindiwe orders Municipality to reverse land sales

LOBAMBA — Minister of Housing and Urban Development Lindiwe Dlamini has instructed the Municipal of Mbabane to facilitate the reversal of land allocated to Cabinet ministers.

This is according to an eight-page report which she tabled in Senate yesterday after the House had moved that she revokes within three weeks, the sale of land to Cabinet ministers including the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister.

According to the report, the Mbabane Council had since written to the affected ministers to that effect.

However, six of the pages of the report are copies of letters which the Muni-cipal Council, through the acting Chief Executive Officer and Director of Planning and Community Development Fik’sile Dlamini, wrote to the affected ministers.

The letters which are similar in content basically state that, "Following a resolution passed by the House of Senate on the February 23, 2011 to reverse land allocated to Cabinet ministers, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has instructed Council to notify you of this development and further facilitate the transfer of the land back to government".

The letters written to the ministers are dated March 15, 2011. According to the letters, the ministers are advised to consult the office of the CEO should they seek further clarity. However, the report does not contain any form of documents or letters from the ministers in response to those written to them by the City Council.

On March 8, 2011 the now former Principal Secretary of the ministry Thembinkosi Mamba wrote to the municipal’s CEO requesting that he transfers the land back to government.

There was not documentation in the report to show if such had happened.

Senator Thulile Msane asked Senate President Gelane Zwa-ne that the report be debated on Mo-nday.

Can I ask a stupid question; if I steal meat and as I am about to put it on the spit braai I get caught. After a bitter wrangle with the rightful owners I return it painfully. Does this mean there has been no crime committed? Two crimes have committed here, one of alleged theft, and the other of resisting restitution. Look at the costs of the Parliamentary probe, logistics, lost opportunities because the country was concentrating on the stolen land instead of the economy, sitting allowances for Senate and Parliament for lengthy debates over this land, cost of stationery writing papers to justify theft to both houses of parliament, overtime incurred by civil servants to meet deadlines by the probe team, enmity caused by the theft, time wasted and economic costs in organising protests against the theft, etc. We have spent more as a country in trying to get back the land than the actual value of the stolen land. So, returning the land is only an admission of guilt, but Cabinet must now reimburse the nation the costs associated with the theft which runs in the millions. Finish and klaar.
Mar 26, 2011, 10:47 AM, Overseer (getsy@gmail.com)

Two reversals now.It was the 31mil and now the city council land.This Minister should be at home by now.I am amazed no MP has called for her skin but it was so easy for them to call for Ntuthuko's removal.That is double standard MPs,you don't have to choose and pick who you fire but be fair. Ant ways you all don't deserve to be there in the first place.
Mar 26, 2011, 2:57 PM, Stones (stones.m68@hotmail.co.uk)

Uyabeka getsy! I wish this was face book and there was like! I like,i like your comment. kutsi batsetse babuyisela is not the issue in the first place,tandla setivele tingcolile. a crime has already been committed and they should be brought to justice.
Mar 26, 2011, 8:13 PM, anonymous

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