MALAMULELE – The controversy surrounding the status of the former Levubu-Shingwedzi TLC is deepening.

This transpired during a meeting between the Malamulele Border Committee and the Malamulele community last Sunday. The meeting was held at Malamulele Stadium.

A report on the developments of their fight against the incorporation of Levubu Shingwedzi TLC into Thulamela municipality was given to the aggrieved attendants. At this meeting, which was mainly attended by the elderly, one could hear them echoing the fact that they have rights to be listened to, before anyone can decide on their future.

They refer to their area as self-sufficient as far as infrastructure is concerned. This makes Malamulele fit to be an independent municipality, which the demarcation board did not take into consideration when deciding to incorporate it into Thulamela, they said.

To support the protest the traditional leaders of the area are said to have written a letter to the Human Rights Commission asking the institution to help them in the saga. According to the letter, the incorporation is a "strangulation of the Malamulele community's residential and identity rights." The commission responded by advising the traditional body to furnish them with the rights violated as well as the name(s) and address(es) of the violator(s).

The old men who attended the meeting sent a very strong message to the youth of the area, saying that they should take part in the struggle, as they themselves were doing that for the young people of the area, who have a longer time to enjoy the outcome should they succeed with their demands.

The border committee declined to make press statements, saying that would breach their agreement with the Demarcation Board which states that no press statements are to be made as the problem is being attended to.