Durban - EMERGING farmers and nearby landowners are demanding government intervention after land invaders illegally built informal houses on Buildfontein farm in Kokstad.
The invaders allegedly started building informal structures in July on the land which is owned by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development and has been leased to emerging farmers since 2017.
Lucky Majola, manager at Buildfontein farm and a member of the family that has been leased the farm by the department, said they had suffered major losses following the land invasion.
“We have recorded a large number of incidents of theft of our livestock since the invaders built housing structures on the farm. There also has been a massive theft of grain since the invaders started living on the farm. Our grain harvest is extremely low compared to previous years.
“It is extremely difficult. My uncle was awarded the lease of this farm as an emerging farmer and has since passed on. My aunt, his wife, has been running the farm and it is very difficult to be in a situation like this. We are losing our livelihood,” said Majola.
Majola said the family had reported the matter to the department and the Greater Kokstad Municipality.
“We appeal to the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development to have these informal structures removed and the people who are illegally occupying the land evicted. We can’t continue like this and need this matter resolved urgently.”
Sharon de Kock from the Ettrick Farmers’ Association and a nearby landowner, said that on July 1 people started erecting shacks on an open piece of ground on the corner of the D615 and R617 near Kokstad.
“This land is zoned for agriculture and not for residential. The property concerned belongs to the Department Land Affairs and was leased to the Zulu family. We are a small community of emerging farmers, landowners and commercial farmers.”
De Kock said they were concerned about the “condition of farm fences that have been taken down and animals were getting out and into crops and vegetable gardens”.
Other challenges include the trapping of wildlife and the long grass on the verge of the road was set alight on two occasions, resulting in runaway fires.
The DA said DA MP Hlanganani Gumbi and district councillor Bradwyn Marnce conducted an oversight visit at the farm.
“The farm is intended for the benefit of emerging black farmers. Our councillors have been working through the local Kokstad municipality to prevent and stop the illegal invasion. The municipality has, however, not taken any steps to protect land within its boundaries, its residents or to stop any lawlessness.”
Sipho Zwane, municipal manager at the Greater Kokstad Municipality, said the municipality strongly condemned the land invasion.
“The Buildfontein farm is owned by the Department of Agriculture and our hands are tied as we can’t evict the invaders from the land.
“In another incident where there was a land invasion at a different area in Kokstad and the land was owned by the municipality we were able to get a court order, demolish the structure and evict the invaders. However, we can’t do the same here.”
He said the municipality was working with the Department of Agriculture to resolve the situation.
“We are working with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development to get an urgent court interdict so that invaders can be removed and the structures demolished.
“The speaker of the municipality has also addressed the invaders to let them know that what they are doing is illegal and they should not be here. We will continue to do our best until this situation is resolved.”
The Agriculture Department spokesperson was contacted by The Mercury, but at the time of publication the department had not responded.