A TUG-OF-WAR between a Mpumalanga chief and a local school over who should receive an aerial rental fee from cellular network giant MTN has finally been resolved.
A TUG-OF-WAR between a Mpumalanga chief and a local school over who should receive an aerial rental fee from cellular network giant MTN has finally been resolved.
Sowetan can reveal that the company has decided to share the R24000 yearly rental fee between the conflicting parties.
This despite MTN's refusal to reveal the details of their new agreement with Dikgabo Combined School and Kgosi Tlhame Moepi of Bakgatla Ba Mocha.
The row started when the chief claimed the rent because the school was "on my soil".
"I can confirm that we have amicably resolved the matter between the chief and the school.
"But MTN is not at liberty to disclose the details of the agreement," said company spokesperson Bridget Bhengu.
The agreement brings to an end a two-year row between Bakgatla ba Mocha Tribal Authority and the management of Dikgabo Combined School.
Initially, the company planned to pay the fee to the chief but had to abandon its plan after a public outcry.
The school management and angry community members had threatened to block the cellphone company from erecting the tower in the school yard.
School principal William Kgarabyae even threatened to take the matter to the Constitutional Court if pushed too far.
Row over aerial rental fee solved
A TUG-OF-WAR between a Mpumalanga chief and a local school over who should receive an aerial rental fee from cellular network giant MTN has finally been resolved.
A TUG-OF-WAR between a Mpumalanga chief and a local school over who should receive an aerial rental fee from cellular network giant MTN has finally been resolved.
Sowetan can reveal that the company has decided to share the R24000 yearly rental fee between the conflicting parties.
This despite MTN's refusal to reveal the details of their new agreement with Dikgabo Combined School and Kgosi Tlhame Moepi of Bakgatla Ba Mocha.
The row started when the chief claimed the rent because the school was "on my soil".
"I can confirm that we have amicably resolved the matter between the chief and the school.
"But MTN is not at liberty to disclose the details of the agreement," said company spokesperson Bridget Bhengu.
The agreement brings to an end a two-year row between Bakgatla ba Mocha Tribal Authority and the management of Dikgabo Combined School.
Initially, the company planned to pay the fee to the chief but had to abandon its plan after a public outcry.
The school management and angry community members had threatened to block the cellphone company from erecting the tower in the school yard.
School principal William Kgarabyae even threatened to take the matter to the Constitutional Court if pushed too far.
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