Tussle over an illegal tollgate erected close the Nandoni Dam broke out at Mulenzhe Village last week.

It is said that the “back street” tollgate started early in May 2006, and that security officers at the tollgate are forcing villagers to pay, although they are just passing by.

One of the complaining villagers, Mr Derrick Nyathela, reported that villagers of Khakhanwa, Tamba u late and Dovheni are also complaining about this illegal tollgate. “It was erected on our shortcut way to our homes,” he said.

The spokesperson of the Mulenzhe Development Trust, Mr Tshifhiwa Tshiololi, said it was not a tollgate, but a tourism place “we are trying to develop. The place is about 500 hectares big, and the company from America is coming to invest millions of rands by building golf and tennis courts and cultural attractions. In phase 2, the trust is going to build a hotel or lodge where tourist will be able to rest there. The fees collected at the gate are going to the Mulenzhe Development Trust,” he said.

The spokesperson of Thulamela Municipality, Mr Ndwamato Tshiila, said he was not aware of the tollgate at the Nandoni Dam gate. “We are going to investigate and see what is happening and this issue should be taken to the Department of Transport to see if the alleged tollgate is legal or not”.

The Limpopo Department of Transport was also shocked to hear about a new tollgate at the Nandoni Dam gate and expressed concern about what is happening at Mulenzhe - Nandoni Dam.

Chief Jeffrey Ramovha of Mulenzhe Village said there is no tollgate, but a tourism place where the outsiders must pay when they want to enter.