Introduction 

There have been serious tensions, animosity, and divisions among the traditional leadership of Songwana area in eMakwakwa in Northern KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. These tensions and divisions come as a direct result of contestations and questions over who should allocate land to the community members, how a new community member has been allocated land and by whom, and who should enjoy the money that community members pay for land. 

How Tensions and Divisions Play Out in Songwana (Makwakwa area)? 

Due to the corruption and greed among representatives of induna (traditional leaders) who are responsible for the distribution and allocation of land to people who intend to pay for land and fully become part of the community, this breeds tensions and divisions among those members appointed by induna to distribute and submit what has been paid to induna. However, the key factors that lead to these serious tensions and divisions start when some representatives of induna secretly distribute and allocate land to the people without the knowledge of others, as they are supposed to do this task with.

Reasons for the Divisions among Induna Representatives over Land Allocation and Distribution

Those who secretly allocate land to new members while charging them for land do this simply because they do not want to follow the right procedure. Secondly, they do not want to submit money to Induna, nor do they want to share the money with those they are tasked by Induna to work with. One of the reasons why they do this is because they view Induna as someone who is corrupt and eats the money paid by people for land alone. Therefore, they deliberately allocate land to people so that they can also benefit from the money that people pay for land in their community, since they are also part of the land distribution and allocation committee. 

Long-term Effects of Power Battles over Land Allocation at Songwana

This issue is serious in such a way that it not only creates divisions and tensions among representatives of a traditional leader, but it also creates community members who end up not talking to each other. To a large extent, this leads to physical confrontations, especially when a person who has paid for land without following the right channel and procedure is required to pay again. When a person who has already paid for land, but has paid it without coming to esigungwini (a place where representatives of induna meet, including induna depending on his availability) is instructed to pay again, this creates tensions not only between the person who paid for land and the person who secretly allocated land, but also among the representatives of induna and induna himself, who in most instances, has to intervene and take disciplinary actions against those who secretly allocate land to people without submitting money to him (induna). 

Conclusion 

The Community of Songwana in Northern KwaZulu-Natal remains divided over power battles over land distributions and allocation. Corruption and selfishness among some induna representatives are factors contributing to divisions and tensions among the traditional leadership in this area.