Zikalala steps in to quell land dispute in Pongola

In a statement, the premier's office says the land claim, which has become a bone of contention between the Nkunzana Communal Property Trust and members of the Nkunzana Concerned Group, now poses a major threat to the "big five" private Mkuze-Falls game reserve in Nkunzana in Pongola.

It's understood that conflicts and deadlocks among the beneficiaries have impacted negatively on the productivity of the land.

The premier’s office says it's now reached a point of threatening the game reserve, which is a major tourist attraction for the province.

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"Premier Zikalala's intervention is intended to resolve the land row among beneficiaries, which has reached a point of threatening the ‘big five’ private Mkuze Falls game reserve near Pongola. 

"The game reserve has, for years, been a major source of income for many families and the dispute threatens to destroy the livelihood of the community," the statement said.