Family's plea for help

SACRED: AUTHORITIES APPROACHED TO FORCE FARMER TO ACCEDE TO VISIT

- Masoka Dube

Reportedly barred by new farm owner from accessing sacred hill for king's ritual.

The Manana royal family, based in Leslie, Mpumalanga, have approached the authorities and lawyers to compel a KwaZulu-Natal farm owner to give them access to the family's ancestral sacred site.

Sipho Manana, also known as iNgonyama Ziyane 11, said the fight to access the Talana Hill in Dundee started in May 2022 after the new farm owner, Alex van Staden, allegedly ordered them not to visit the farm any more.

Manana said after the family tried in vain to convince Van Staden to change his mind, they approached the KZN provincial government's relevant departments for help, but to no avail.

"We have tried everything to convince the owner of the farm, but he does not seem to be interested in cooperating.

"We are worried because the previous owner did not have a problem with us entering the farm and doing the rituals and other related things.