Phineas Mdluli, the eldest grandson of the paramount chief of the Mdluli's, and almost 500 beneficiaries had sought the removal of the present trustees of the Matsafeni Trust, including Terry Thamsanqa Mdluli.

The trust was founded after the land was awarded to the Matsafeni community as part of a land claim settlement in 2003.

The land was bought by the government from HL Hall & Sons for R57 million after the land claim was instituted.

However, the trustees allegedly sold 43 hectares of the agricultural land - on which the 2010 soccer stadium is now being built - for just R1 in 2007 in terms of a "deed of donation" agreement with the Mbombela Local Municipality.

Developers plan to use the stadium as the centre piece for a new sport, entertainment, and upmarket residential precinct serving the fast-growing city of Nelspruit, with the overall development estimated to be worth over R3 billion.

Mdluli and the applicants alleged the trustees failed to secure approvals from the Matsafeni beneficiaries, and the Land Claims Commission of the Land Affairs Minister for the R1 deal.

They also alleged the trustees had failed to convene annual general meetings or to account for income of over R20 million earned by the trust.

They allegedly sold the ancestral land without a legal mandate.

The community wants the trust restructured to reflect the will of the beneficiaries and want to be compensated for any loss of land or other rights.

Following lengthy settlement negotiations between the opposing sides, Judge Roger Claassen granted an order in terms of which the present trustees were removed and a new board of trustees appointed, including three independent trust professionals as well as trustees representing both sides.

The new trustees were authorised to take control, manage and investigate the assets and business of the Trust, including all agreements entered into between the trustees and any third party and payments made by the Trust.

They have to report back to the Master of the High Court and convene a general meeting of members of the Trust so that new trustees could be elected within the next four months.

The new trustees were also directed to compile a register of members of the trust in consultation with the Commission for the Restitution of Land Rights and the beneficiaries of the Trust.