A legal letter sent to SANRAL on 12 March 2026 accuses the agency of unlawfully taking land and misleading residents in villages near Mbizana in the Eastern Cape.
Lawyers representing households in Jama, Baleni, Khumbuza, Mdatya, Bekela, Sigidi and Xolobeni say SANRAL has not responded to a demand issued before a 23 March deadline.
What happened
The “letter of demand” alleges that SANRAL is continuing with processes to acquire land for the N2 Wild Coast Toll Road despite claims that required legal steps were not followed.
According to the letter, SANRAL officials and consultants have approached residents, asking them to provide personal documents and sign compensation-related paperwork.
The lawyers argue that earlier “village resolutions” and agreements used to justify land acquisition are “invalid and of no legal force and effect”.
Official response
At the time of writing, SANRAL had not responded to the legal demand or earlier correspondence from the affected communities, according to the Amadiba Crisis Committee.
The letter also notes that the Minister of Land Reform had not approved the land acquisition as of a meeting on 15 February 2026.
Impact on communities
The dispute affects multiple rural villages along the proposed N2 route in the Amadiba area.
Community representatives claim households are being pressured to sign documents without clear information about compensation or relocation.
They also warn that the project could result in displacement of homes, loss of agricultural land and disruption to local livelihoods if the current route proceeds.
What happens next
The legal team has demanded that SANRAL stop engaging residents on the current basis and respond formally to the allegations.
It remains unclear whether SANRAL will respond or whether the matter will proceed to court.
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