Mpumalanga CPA blasts Nyhontso's silence on 'R62m farm fraud'

Beneficiaries of land reform say their restituted property has been hijacked

- By Tshwarelo eseng Mogakane

Mzwanele Nyhontso

Frustrated land reform beneficiaries in Mpumalanga have accused Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso of going silent after being handed documentary evidence relating to what they described as an unlawfully obtained R62-million mortgage bond registered over their restituted farm along the N4 Highway outside Mbombela.

The Mawulu Communal Property Association (CPA), which represents beneficiaries of Farm Richmond 287 JT and Belmont 289 near Sudwala Caves, said it met Nyhontso in Randburg in August last year, and handed him documents relating to the bond and a 30-year lease affecting the property.

CPA chairperson Sinky Mnisi said they approached the minister after delays in the police investigations into their fraud complaint involving individuals and companies linked to the bond.

The police case was opened in 2024.

“We eventually met the minister in Randburg, where we presented a stack of documents showing that some individuals and companies had taken our title deeds without our knowledge or approval and then went and secured a bond and a loan of R62-million,” Mnisi said.

“To be precise, the mortgage bond was obtained without the knowledge or approval of the CPA.”

Mnisi said Nyhontso undertook to investigate and revert to them.

He initially responded to followup calls, emails and messages, but communication allegedly stopped in November last year.