The submission from the Silwanendlala Farmers Agricultural Cooperative illustrated the experiences of the rural people in the Matsamo Tribal Authority, Mpumalanga. Some of the problems experienced by the rural people centred on issues around chieftaincy and traditional authorities, institutions that derived their mandate and powers from the BAA, which were legislated by the BAA. These contributory factors or problems subsequently determined the manner in which the Tribal Authority decided on development; selling land that it does not own; and imposing different kinds of levies to the residents, but does not provide services.