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LUDIDI SOUTH COMMUNITY AFFORESTATION PROJECT

Scoping and Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA)

Sulenkama Community Meeting Minutes VENUE: Sulenkama Community Hall

DATE: 20 APRIL 2017 TIME: 10:30

List of Appendices I. Agenda

II. SEIA Presentation III. Attendance Registers

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1 Opening

The meeting was opened with a prayer by Mrs Dyosoba at 10:30. 1.1 Welcome and Introductions

Mrs Dyosoba and Mr Maxson Mxinwa (MM) welcomed all present in the meeting and thanked

community members in attendance. Mrs Dyosoba apologised for the low attendance of community

members (CM) and highlighted that they have been employed in road construction project. MM then

facilitated the introductory session of all organizations present as follows: RFD (James Ballantyne and

Themba Radebe), INR (Zanele Shezi and Zinhle Ntombela) and DAFF (Collen Sijadu). Mrs Dyosoba

apologised on behalf of the Ward Councillor (Mr Mathe) that he had to attend the IDP consultations

meetings for Mhlontlo Municipality. She further apologised for the postponement of the meeting

planned to take place on 29 March 2017.

2 Purpose of the meeting

MM gave a background of the meeting and the overall Ludidi community forestry projects. He

emphasised that he understands that Sulenkama community members have expectations that this

meeting is about addressing issues of their own forestry, but that will be discussed as the last item on

the agenda. Zanele Shezi (ZS) clarified that the purpose of the meeting is to understand how the

proposed community forestry project at Upper Chulunca will impact the Sulenkama community.

Similar meeting has also been held with Emjikelweni community neighbouring Qhanqu. The two

communities (Upper Chulunca and Sulenkama) are sharing mainly the grazing land and other

resources. The Upper Chulunca community has proposed forestry development, which will impact

Sulenkama grazing accessibility. The aim of the meeting is mainly to afford the community members to

discuss what they would like to be considered, and perhaps come up with a plan of how they going to

graze their cattle in the near future. This, with the view to strengthen the existing relationships for the

development to take place between the communities. CS also shared how DAFF has been involved in

the conceptualization of the forestry projects. ZS further invited questions, comments and concerns

that community members would like to bring to the fore. CM requested local leaders (Mrs Dyosoba

and MM to clarify the issue of the grazing and forestry boundary between Sulenkama and Upper

Chulunca.

3 Discussions

MM and Mrs Dyosoba described the boundary of the Upper Chulunca, Cengcane forestry projects, and

how they link with each other to paint a picture for the community members who were not sure of the

Sulenkama and Upper Chulunca boundary. It was clarified that the forests are close to each other but

there is no overlap to Sulenkama boundary, which means limited grazing for Sulenkama since all these

years they have been enjoying grazing their livestock at Upper Chulunca (close to Dumaneni sub-village

rangeland). Sulenkama has been borrowing grazing land from Upper Chulunca, but there were no

written agreements, it was just neighbours sharing a natural resource. Upper Chulunca has now

decided to initiate forestry development, but they still have enough grazing land available for their

own livestock. The proposed development area belongs to Upper Chulunca, they have been kind

enough to allow Sulenkama grazing access. Mrs Dyosoba further clarified that in the past, there were

livestock rangers who were responsible for herding livestock of the two communities, but the grazing

land belonged to Upper Chulunca, and that has not changed. There was and still is a relationship of

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allowing Sulenkama to graze in Upper Chulunca. The main aim of the meeting is to bring to the

attention of Sulenkama community that they will no longer have access to grazing (at Upper Chulunca)

when the forestry project starts. Community members eventually admitted that they have no right to

contest the development in Upper Chulunca because the land belongs to Upper Chulunca. Although

their livestock have been benefiting, they do understand that if needs be they have to come up with an

alternative plan for grazing.

4. Comments and Issues

4.1 Plunge/Dip Tank shared by Upper Chulunca and Sulenkama

Community members (CM) raised that there is a dip tank that is shared by both communities, and it is

situated in Upper Chulunca. What will happen with regards to access to the dip tank? MM clarified

that they will still be allowed to use the dip tank.

4.2 Grazing land

Isibonda (Mr Vezi) – commented that community members of Sulenkama should not worry because

the forestry project will not take the whole rangeland completely. If it becomes a serious issue the

Traditional Authority is also willing to engage with communities to address rangeland management

issues. Such engagements will involve the two Traditional Authorities (AmaHlubi and Amampondomise

Traditional Authorities). Upper Chulunca should be allowed to proceed with their forestry

development. Community members are aware of the proposed development in Upper Chulunca, and

how it will impact them, and hopes that most of the impact will mainly be positive with less negatives.

Sulenkama should be grateful that they have all these years allowed them to graze their livestock

within Upper Chulunca boundaries. As the Traditional Authority they are willing to cooperate with the

development to bring about economic development in communities.

4.3 Job Opportunities

CM requested Upper Chulunca to consider them in job opportunities to be created by forestry

development. MM responded that the neighbouring communities of the three actual forestry

communities have been considered in job creation. Mr Vezi also appealed to the Ludidi Forestry

committee to consider all neighbours with job creation when the project gets underway.

5. Sulenkama Forest

In addition community members wanted to talk about their own forestry project that was initiated by

Hans Merensky. DAFF (CJ) explained that he knows about the forestry, and why it did not go ahead

along with the three others (Upper Chulunca, Luqolweni and Qhanqu). Community members raised

that they were left in the dark with no further clarification. They have been hearing that the other

community projects are going ahead but theirs is not. Mrs Dyosoba also explained that as the Ward

Committee they have been trying to engage with relevant stakeholders to continue with discussions

and find a way forward. Resolution: DAFF (CS) will try to bring all concerned stakeholders to meet

with the community and find a way forward on this matter.

6. Closing remarks

The Sulenkama community is in full support of the project in Upper Chulunca, and acknowledged that

they will inform fellow community members during the Traditional Authority meetings and other

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community gatherings. CM further requested forestry committee to keep them informed on the latest

development of the forestry projects. Mrs Dyosoba and MM thanked community members for their

active participation and input to the meetings.

The meeting was adjourned at 13:15

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Appendix 1: AGENDA SULENKAMA COMMUNITY MEETING

10:30 – 11:00 Opening Welcome Introductions

Mrs Dyosoba and Maxson Mxinwa Ward Committee Member

11:00 – 11:30 Purpose of the meetings

Maxson Mxinwa, Mrs Dyosoba and INR : Zanele Shezi

11:30 – 11:45 Scoping and Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) Process

INR : Zanele Shezi

11:45 – 12:30 Community Comments and Discussions INR : Zanele Shezi, Maxson Mxinwa, Mrs Dyosoba and Collen Sijadu

12:30 – 13:00 Sulenkama Forestry Mrs Dyosoba, Maxson Mxinwa and Collen Sijadu

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Appendix 2: PRESENTATION OF SEIA PROCESS

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Appendix 3: Attendance Registers

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