‘Bush school’ to challenge court order

Founder of the controversial Inanda “bush college” Simphiwe Zondo is preparing to challenge the Durban High Court interim order for him to shut down operations.

He has also been ordered to clean up the filthy conditions at the massive camp and make it safe for people staying there in the interim.

Speaking to the Daily News on Wednesday, Zondo, owner of Plessi World of Wellness, said his legal team would argue that the college does not interfere with a planned tourism project, as claimed by the city.

Zondo also insisted the college was built on tribal land with the authority of traditional leaders.

The interim order handed down to Zondo by Judge Mohini Murugasen two weeks ago, comes after the eThekwini Municipality applied for an interdict against him, calling for Zondo to immediately stop business operations, demolish unapproved buildings and vacate Armstrong Hill.

Zondo has until May 24 to oppose the order before it is made final.

His college is on land next to a tourist development project proposed by the city.

According to court papers, Zondo started operating his “bush college” in 2010 and about 2 000 students, trained to sell health products, live in tents next to land earmarked for the development of the Inthathakusa Retreat.

“I am adjacent to the land earmarked for development. I am not on it. I have got surveyors to look at the land and they have compiled a report that will go with my appeal court papers. They cannot evict me, that is tribal land and from my understanding, they cannot just evict me without giving me an alternative venue to continue with my operations,” he said.

Zondo said while his legal team was preparing court papers to appeal against the interim order, it was also looking at municipal and tribal laws.

He would be approaching the tribal authority to secure affidavits confirming he had been granted permission to occupy the land.

“I am prepared to take this as far as possible. If I win, I will continue my operations, but if I lose, I will explore other options.

“If they say I must vacate the land, they must remember that it is not just a school, it is also my home. Where do they expect me to live?” he asked.

Zondo said he had stopped operations as per court order.

In 2011, officials of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health and the city’s environmental services inspected the area and drafted a report recommending the immediate closure of the college.

The inspection found that there was no running water or electricity and there were no ablution facilities.

Students were living in tents while attending workshops in a marquee.

Officials found that waste was being dumped illegally, attracting flies and creating an offensive smell.

In the report, officials also noted that the tent accommodation put students’ health in jeopardy, because the tents were not designed for long-term habitation.

In the interim, Judge Murugasen instructed him to stop any conduct defined as a “nuisance” by immediately removing all refuse on the site and keeping it clean thereafter.

The court order also said he had to provide running, clean water, serviced chemical toilets and a healthy food preparation facility.

He must also ensure there is a 2m space between tents; that there are fire extinguishers at the cooking site; and that city inspectors were free to enter the property.

- Daily News