A committee formed by the government of Central Equatoria State to investigate the status of Zain playground has discovered that the land in question is not a public property, as alleged by members of the public, but a community property that was sold out since 2012.
The Adhoc committee which was formed by Governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony in March this year following a saga caused by competing parties on the ownership of the land, presented its findings on Thursday at the State Secretariat.
The committee was formed to investigate public outcry about the sports space following claims about its ownership between Juba County authorities and an investor. The identity of the investor has not been disclosed.
Addressing journalists on Thursday after presenting the findings to the governor, Wayi Godwill, the deputy chairperson of the committee who also doubles as the state minister of Cabinet Affairs, said the land in question is community land, and it was allotted to individuals.
“We, the members of the committee, met with different stakeholders that are connected to that area. The members include community leaders, representatives from Juba County authorities, the Ministry of Land and Housing, and some individuals that are concerned about the area,” Minister Wayi said.
Minister Wayi explained: “In our findings, that place is a community place. And the community allotted it to some individuals, So it’s those individuals that sold the place to that investor.”
The committee further dismissed what it called allegations fabricated by some members of the public that the state government had sold out the playground.
“The committee in the strongest sense possible, dismissed wild allegations being fabricated by some defiant members of the society that the government had sold out the Zain ground,” voiced Minister Wayi.
The cabinet minister further appealed to the general public to remain calm as the government finds an appropriate solution to quell the conflicting communities over the ownership of the land.
The seven-member committee was headed by the Central Equatoria State minister for Land, Housing and Public Utilities, Flora Gabriel Loro.