The Makhutswi Communal Property Association (CPA) own the farm and is leased to Beerseun Boerdery, under contract with the CPAReports of a land-grab attempt, coupled with reports of violence, spread like wildfire on social media on Sunday, November 5.
It is believed that looters from Cailies Village turned up in their numbers, harvesting the mango farm to a skeleton.
According to information, the community members believed that land belonged to them and that the mangos produced there were the community’s property.
The looting became very violent and the situation was extremely tense and fragile.
The Letaba Neighbourhood Watch confirmed in an official statement that there was indeed an incident of community conflict and that it was then further handled by SAPS last Monday.
“The Ofcolaco community came together and stood as one alongside the Maake SAPS and General Maggie Mathebula [Tzaneen Cluster Commander],” said a resident of the Ofcolaco area (who wishes to remain anonymous) to the Letaba Herald.
The SAPS set up a task force during the altercation and looters were arrested.Constable Manabe of Maake SAPS was able to confirm to the Letaba Herald that one looter who was in possession of illegal firearms was taken into into custody.
Social media posts which alleged that trucks came into the farm from as far as Johannesburg, and that it was a land grab, the first of many like in Zimbabwe were strongly denied.
The situation on the farm is currently calm.
