PIETERMARITZBURG - Ingonyama Trust says it will approach the courts to overturn a decision by Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso to dissolve it's board.
Ingonyama Trust CEO Siyamdumisa Vilakazi criticised the dissolution, saying it was “irrational” and “nonsensical”.
Nyhontso said he dissolved the board because it failed to meet a quorum. Several members resigned, leaving the board with only four members and rendered it legally dysfunctional.
An administrator has been appointed to oversee the operations of the Trust.
But Vilakazi maintains the action of the minister was unlawful.
“It’s absolute nonsensical what is happening here,” he said.
“The agenda that is being pushed is that development must not come to black people and particularly in these communal areas. We are watching what is going on and we are going to react accordingly. It’s irrational and doesn’t make sense."
While Nyontso argued that consultations were done with KZN Premier Thami Ntuli and AmaZulu king Misuzulu ka Zwelithini, Vilakazi said the basis of the consultations was to put the board on precautionary suspension.
“We have no evidence that the minister consulted the premier and the king for the removal of board. We have evidence that he consulted them on the basis that there was an investigation which has not even started because we have not been called upon to make representations.”
Vilakazi said it was business as usual for the Trust.
“We will approach the court for a review of his decision which we believe is irrational,” he added.
“The regulations are quite clear; this is a self-created crisis by the minister. Every time a board member leaves, the administrative regulation require him to fill up that vacancy. He had that had responsibility of resolving attrition issues, he cannot then come back and say he wants to get rid of the board.”
He added that Nyhontso had failed to apply legal remedy for attrition as outlined in the regulations.