Makhanda High Court orders immediate halt to illegal Wild Coast building
Two years after a group of women were allegedly assaulted on a Wild Coast beach, the high court has granted an interdict which bars the construction of any further illegal structures along this protected environmental landscape.
In a ruling earlier this month, the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court in Makhanda ordered that local resident Nero Dlamini (or his agents or contractors) be restrained and interdicted from constructing any new buildings within 1km of the sea near Sigidi village.
The order, granted on 8 May 2025 by Acting Judge V Sangoni, follows a heated confrontation about the erection of illegal structures close to the beach almost two years ago.
Local activist Nonhle Mbuthuma (joint winner of the 2024 Goldman Environmental Prize) and fellow women residents were allegedly beaten with knobkerries while attempting to halt building work on a new structure inside the protected coastal zone in April 2023.
Mbuthuma has played a central role in opposing plans for dune mining and a new toll road along this northern section of the Wild Coast.
Shortly after the confrontation, Mbuthuma secured a Rule Nisi (interim interdict) from the high court to prevent further building close to the beach at Sigidi that was in conflict with Transkei Environmental Conservation Decree 9 (which prohibits construction of any buildings without a special permit).
In the most recent ruling, the court also ordered Dlamini to rehabilitate any cleared land. The Sheriff of the Court was also directed to dismantle any illegal structures, with the assistance of the SA Police Service if required.
Though the application was opposed, Dlamini and his legal representatives did not appear at the latest hearing. DM
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
eNCA
10 minutes ago
- eNCA
Operation Dudula and March&March protest in Durban
DURBAN - Members of Operation Dudula and March & March are calling for mass deportations of undocumented foreign nationals. They say government officials found selling fraudulent documents must be arrested and prosecuted. The civil rights groups led a protest to keep undocumented migrants from accessing healthcare services. The two groups handed over a memorandum of demands to the High Court in Durban.
IOL News
6 hours ago
- IOL News
Lawyer tackles eSwatini authorities after being blocked from consulting US criminal deportees
Seasoned eSwatini human rights lawyer Sibusiso Nhlabatsi spoke to IOL on his fight to access the criminals deported from United States. Image: Supplied Seasoned Eswatini human rights lawyer Sibusiso Nhlabatsi has launched a High Court bid to gain access to five "dangerous" convicted criminals deported to the African nation from the United States. Nhlabatsi is challenging the prison authorities' refusal to allow him to meet and consult with the detained men. According to media reports, the deported men intend to challenge their presence in eSwatini. Earlier this week, IOL reported that the deportation of the five hardened criminals, a decision by US President Donald Trump's administration, reportedly took Eswatini citizens and activists by surprise and shock. The United States sent five men it describes as 'barbaric' criminals to the neighbouring Kingdom of eSwatini. Image: X Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Speaking to IOL on Friday, Nhlabatsi said his commentary is limited because the matter is before the courts. 'However, the core of my application is to ask the court to grant me an order to access the deportees. I have been given specific instructions by three US-based attorneys who were representing them back home, and the purpose of my visit is simply to fulfill those instructions,' Nhlabatsi told IOL. 'Last Friday, the prison authorities denied me access, citing that they were still working on facilities or gadgets that would allow the deportees to call home.' Nhlabatsi argued that the actions of the eSwatini authorities were unlawful. 'In my view, this is unlawful because it denies them legal access and representation which is constitutionally guaranteed,' he said. IOL reported earlier this week that the move has also sparked outrage in the small landlocked nation, and fears abound that the criminals may end up in South Africa. The Trump administration announced over a week ago that it would be sending the men who are illegal immigrants from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Yemen and Cuba convicted of child rape, murder, burglary, and being gang members and whose countries refuse to take them back. Speaking to IOL previously, Bheki Makhubu, editor of the monthly news magazine The Nation, said people of eSwatini feel betrayed. 'Essentially, emaSwati feel they were betrayed by the leadership of eSwatini. This move came as a complete surprise and seems to have been arranged and known by only a select few people. This deal feels like an invasion of our country by the US. We feel our leaders have sold our country to Trump behind our backs,' he said. 'This country is nobody's personal property and therefore we're upset and most importantly, afraid. There's a fear that if this is allowed to continue, and it looks like more prisoners are coming, one day we will wake up and find that we've been annexed by another country behind our backs.' Makhubu added that his understanding was that the dangerous criminals are set to spend only a year in eSwatini. Bheki Makhubu, editor of the eSwatini monthly news magazine The Nation spoke to IOL Image: Supplied 'If, as we are told, they are not wanted in their own countries, what will happen to them? Our economy is very small, I doubt they'll want to stick around once free. The next best place to go is South Africa. 'Remember, South Africa is the gateway to the rest of the world and the economy is large enough for them to try and make a living there. So they could also seek to make your country home,' said Makhubu. Earlier this month, IOL reported that the Kingdom of eSwatini has become the focus of regional scrutiny following the arrival of the five foreign nationals deported from the United States and transferred to its correctional system — individuals convicted of serious crimes, including murder and child rape.
The Citizen
9 hours ago
- The Citizen
Prayer and rape: Limpopo court sentences prophet for girls' rapes
The Lenyenye Magistrate's Court in Limpopo yesterday sentenced prophet Confidence Monyela (40) to two life sentences after he was found guilty of rape and sexual assault. According to Letaba Herald, Monyela, who faced five counts of rape and one of sexual assault, was sentenced: Life (count one and two, respectively) 10 years' imprisonment each (counts three, four and five) Five years' imprisonment (count six: Sexual assault) The court ruled that counts 3 to 6 will run concurrently. In 2017, four girls based in Mariveni village near Letsitele, accused Monyela of inviting them all individually for prayer before raping them. The girls, who were all members of his church and aged 13 to 16 at the time, were reportedly instructed not to disclose the sexual acts, as they were portrayed as the 'transferring of the Holy Spirit', with threats of death if they spoke out. The case divided the Mariveni community, with some labelling it as fiction, while others demanded justice for the victims. As a result, some of the victims were forced to drop out of school in Grade 7 and Grade 11 due to the stigma and bullying they received from being associated with the case. Prophet paid for abortion Magistrate Carol Hon'wana stated that the court held evidence proving Monyela paid for an abortion for one of the girls he impregnated. Hon'wana further noted that the 'man of God' took advantage of the children's vulnerability, especially their trust in him as a spiritual father. 'The fact that you pleaded not guilty on all counts shows no remorse and a lack of empathy,' the magistrate said. She added that the sentencing serves as a message to society that rape cannot be tolerated and offenders must be removed. She concluded by informing the convicted prophet of his right to appeal the sentencing at the High Court if he is dissatisfied. Monyela was surrounded by family and relatives who came to show support at the court. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on
