Mpiyeza Mlaba supported Mzwangedwa Mlaba’s campaign to be chief of his community, in the Camperdown District, Natal [now KwaZulu-Natal], but the community voted for another chief. This led to a dispute in the community and there were several outbreaks of violence over this issue. It was decided that Mpiyeza Mlaba, Mzwangedwa Mlaba and two others should be banished to restore the peace.
Mlaba, formerly resident in the Camperdown District, Natal was banished to Mahlabatini, Northern Natal on 7 November 1953.
The four banished persons appealed against their banishment orders and as the High Court was said to be considering the validity of their banishments, new banishment orders were issued on the grounds that their return would lead to bloodshed.
The order was withdrawn on 1 September 1971.
• Contribution by Professor S. Badat, on Banishment, Rhodes University, 2012