A RICHARDS Bay police officer was rushed to hospital after violence broke out at a legal community protest still underway in Mzingazi.
Four KwaMbonambi community leaders were arrested on charges of public violence after the chaos erupted this morning.
The Richards Bay SAPS, Public Order Policing Unit, Traffic Department and uMhlathuze Fire and Rescue are currently on scene to monitor the now peaceful march.
No rubber bullets or tear gas was used by the SAPS to disperse the crowd, who started picketing in the early hours of this morning.
The community received a protest permit on Wednesday from the Mfolozi Municipality after their attempts to meet the MEC for KZN Cogta Nomusa Dube-Ncube last week, to end a 10-year battle for an Inkosi, failed.
They are hoping to hand over their memorandum to the MEC expected to arrive later today.
Around 3000 people last Monday picketed at the exact same spot demanding that their late Chief’s widow, Sithembile Mkhize be inaugurated as the rightful tribal leader until her young son comes of age.
Last month, the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) ruled that Sithembile Mkhize may substitute for her late husband in issues relating to his personal monetary claims, but the court made no reference to the succession issue.
Their son, Zwelibhekile Sibusiso Mbuyazi was appointed successor in August 2006 after his father passed away in 2005, but this was contested by the former Chief’s younger half-brother Mkhanyiseni Mbonambi who was controversially instated in February 2010.
A protracted legal dispute ensued, involving Cogta and the royal household.
During this time, RBM has had to delay a payment of R30-million to the KwaMbonambi community since control of the settlement must be run through a trust overseen by the sitting chief.
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