One reason the former Transkei still experienced development challenges was because after the advent of democracy bantustan infrastructure was mistakenly disregarded.
This was said by political analyst Dr Somadoda Fikeni, who also identified prolonged land claims, corruption, factionalism, and a lack of provincialism in the Eastern Cape as other reasons for lack of development.
Fikeni was addressing Walter Sisulu University (WSU) students at the Nelson Mandela Drive campus in Mthatha during a Voting Is Power (VIP) discussion on service delivery issues on Tuesday night.
“The psychology of hating bantustan infrastructure to a point of saying ‘let’s let it die’ whether it’s a university or it’s an irrigation scheme or it’s a Magwa tea , or teacher training colleges – when they were closed by Kader Asmal, we were the worst affected.
“This … was a mistake because an irrigation scheme is an irrigation scheme,” he said.
For as long as there were still unresolved land claims, development would be affected, Fikeni said.
He made an example of a plot in Nkululekweni in Mthatha earmarked for the construction of a mall in 2011.
“The company started to do earthworks and started signing contracts with only to be told that this land is under land claim.
“That stopped the development in its track,” Fikeni said.
Government was also not taking full advantage of the tourism potential of the Eastern Cape coastline.
With the eastern part of the province mostly rural, it was a shame that WSU did not offer any agricultural qualifications, Fikeni said.
However, former Centre for Rural Development director, professor Nomfundo Luswazi said there were plans to have a Faculty of Agriculture at WSU.
The faculty would offer degrees in agricultural engineering, agricultural economics, crop and soil science among others.
She said there were ongoing engagements with rural development and agrarian reform MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane to ascertain how the programme would be implemented.
Fikeni said even if the many skilled Eastern Cape natives who had left the province were to return, they would be frustrated by politics.
“You would have to spend 70% of the time not looking at what you came to do professionally but looking at the knives that would be coming in all directions.”
King Sabata Dalindyebo municipality councillor Pasika Nontshiza suggested that government find a way of legalising dagga.
He argued that should dagga be legalised, the economies of Lusikisiki and Port St Johns would flourish as the Mpondo clan was known for its growth.
Unresolved land claims delaying EC growth
This was said by political analyst Dr Somadoda Fikeni, who also identified prolonged land claims, corruption, factionalism, and a lack of provincialism in the Eastern Cape as other reasons for lack of development.
Fikeni was addressing Walter Sisulu University (WSU) students at the Nelson Mandela Drive campus in Mthatha during a Voting Is Power (VIP) discussion on service delivery issues on Tuesday night.
“The psychology of hating bantustan infrastructure to a point of saying ‘let’s let it die’ whether it’s a university or it’s an irrigation scheme or it’s a Magwa tea , or teacher training colleges – when they were closed by Kader Asmal, we were the worst affected.
“This … was a mistake because an irrigation scheme is an irrigation scheme,” he said.
For as long as there were still unresolved land claims, development would be affected, Fikeni said.
He made an example of a plot in Nkululekweni in Mthatha earmarked for the construction of a mall in 2011.
“The company started to do earthworks and started signing contracts with only to be told that this land is under land claim.
“That stopped the development in its track,” Fikeni said.
Government was also not taking full advantage of the tourism potential of the Eastern Cape coastline.
With the eastern part of the province mostly rural, it was a shame that WSU did not offer any agricultural qualifications, Fikeni said.
However, former Centre for Rural Development director, professor Nomfundo Luswazi said there were plans to have a Faculty of Agriculture at WSU.
The faculty would offer degrees in agricultural engineering, agricultural economics, crop and soil science among others.
She said there were ongoing engagements with rural development and agrarian reform MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane to ascertain how the programme would be implemented.
Fikeni said even if the many skilled Eastern Cape natives who had left the province were to return, they would be frustrated by politics.
“You would have to spend 70% of the time not looking at what you came to do professionally but looking at the knives that would be coming in all directions.”
King Sabata Dalindyebo municipality councillor Pasika Nontshiza suggested that government find a way of legalising dagga.
He argued that should dagga be legalised, the economies of Lusikisiki and Port St Johns would flourish as the Mpondo clan was known for its growth.
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