Mbabane – The Municipal Council of Mbabane (MCM) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Gciniwe Fakudze, has said that the council will be rolling out an urban development plan to formalise land ownership and extend municipal services to previously disadvantaged areas.
The plan will incorporate informal settlements into the city’s boundaries and under its jurisdiction.
Fakudze was responding to questions asked during its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday.
Starting, Dr Joy Ndwandwe had raised a concern about the plight of landless residents, particularly in high-density areas such as Msunduza and Mahwalala.
Commending MCM for improved service delivery, a sentiment echoed by other ratepayers in attendance, Dr Ndwandwe revealed that a couple of families have lived on the same plots for three generations without official title deeds, leaving them without legal land ownership.
Fakudze said that progress is already being made in areas like Malagwane, where plots have been pegged and servitude issues addressed, with title deeds expected to be issued soon.
She, however, noted a recurring trend: that many residents whose lives should be improved by land ownership rights move too quickly to sell it once plots are formalised.
“As soon as the land is formalised, wealthier buyers move in and purchase plots from the new title deed owners. My grandmother’s house is in Msunduza, but today, I don’t recognise it from the area, as the original neighbours they had when she was growing up had sold their land, and some of this land has exchanged hands about five times,” she said.
Fakudze suggested that the council should host a land masterclass so that the residents will be educated on the importance of retaining ownership and valuing their land.
The AGM also addressed questions regarding MCM contractors. Abel Ngwenya from Sandla asked why some companies contracted to the council sometimes appear to receive assistance, including the use of municipal trucks and tools to do their work. He wondered how a company with no working tools can win a tender and then turn around and ask for assistance from the same council that gave them the work.
Fakudze clarified that contractors operate in coordination with the city’s in-house teams to carry out projects efficiently and cost-effectively.
“For example, during roadworks, the council may handle earthworks and gravelling internally, while contractors focus on tarring. This hybrid approach reduces costs,” she explained.
She explained that this situation creates the impression that the contractor is using MCM’s tools for their work, while in reality, both parties are simply fulfilling their distinct roles in the project.
The other ratepayers present at the AGM also appreciated Ngwenya’s praise for MCM’s efforts in repairing roads and filling potholes.
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