VRYHEID: Parliament visits Hellberg community

Lolo Madonsela

The community of Hellberg Farm, just outside Vryheid, say they have been living in fear and “intense conditions” for many years without any help from the government. Last month, there was a commotion over evictions on the farm, where one lady was shot with rubber bullets by a security company and is currently in hospital. This incident attracted the attention of the KZN Legislature Portfolio Committee on Agriculture. The committee visited Vryheid last week Saturday, where they met with the community of Hellberg Farm… and that is where the residents laid out all their frustrations and explained the conditions they have been subjected to for many years.

“We have been reporting Hellberg Farm issues for many years, since the first Premier until now, because when Parliament changes, the Portfolio Committee also changes and we keep reporting. The DA councillor does not even go there to assist the community; they struggle to even get something like proof of residence,” said Maria Mabaso, who has been championing the farming communities and their issues.

She said, “We work well with all other farmers in Vryheid, except for Hellberg; he is the only one who is not interested in working with us. What we request is a report informing us how far the process is in assisting Hellberg farm dwellers; how far is the claim? Demolished homes must be rebuilt and we are now requesting expropriation, not restitution anymore.”

Echoing Mabaso’s words was another community member, Emmanuel Zulu, who said the recent issue where one farm dweller was shot started when lockdown was initiated.

“This issue started with Covid-19 when the community was denied access to water by Hellberg. The water does not even come from his house, but from the ground. Other long-standing issues include us being moved to other land; we requested proof that the land he wanted to move us to indeed belonged to him. He told us we will only get the permit once we have moved there, so we therefore refused.

“He has built where our forefathers are buried; even his cattle graze on those graves. He closed all access roads, including the D22 road, which is a public road. Ambulances cannot access the roads when we have someone who needs medical attention. The councillor is correct in saying that she does not know what is happening there, because we also do not even know her. People were shot at, but she never showed up; she never pays attention. Even the police have never supported us or defended us in all we have been subjected to, which includes houses being demolished and our livestock and dogs being poisoned.

“Our children need counselling, as they are traumatised by everything that is happening there. They have witnessed him firing shots in the air in people’s yards with no reason. Children cannot even go to school because scholar transport cannot access the road since he closed up all the roads,” said Zulu.

Colonel Ndlovu said that regarding the matter of evictions, “The sheriff came with a High Court Order for demolition and I explained to him that it was during lockdown, therefore demolitions and evictions were not to be executed unless it is a structure that is incomplete and has no material inside. He understood; in September, he then came back with a letter to execute the court order and a letter requesting the police to accompany the sheriff.

“There was a confrontation when the police arrived there with the sheriff; people were not happy. That was when the security company started shooting with rubber bullets and a woman was injured in the process.”

The investigating officer, Sergeant Buthelezi, indicated that, “We have five suspects who fired rubber bullets. I am also going to get statements from police officers who were at the scene on the day, but no arrests have been made so far.”

Committee members expressed their shock at allegations tabled by the community of Hellberg Farm. The chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Ntombikayise Sibhidla-Saphetha, said, “After realising that farm-related issues were on the rise, Parliament decided to establish an Ad Hoc committee on land matters in KZN. In that committee, we will sit every day to ensure that people receive feedback proactively.

On the issue of Hellberg, which brought us here, we will ensure that this matter is closely monitored and we will not take it as if it is a new matter. We will collect all the reports from all the previous committees and see where they left the matter, and then we will take it forward. “Within 14 days, we will try again to have a meeting with the Hellberg Farm owner and when that happens, that meeting will be held on the farm, not in a community hall like today. We tried to get him to join us in this meeting, but he had no interest, but we will continue pursuing him because these allegations need to be addressed. We hope the police will not run away on the day that meeting takes place and we are requesting co-operation from you as the community; we understand that tempers are high, but we need to resolve this amicably.”

Also read: VRYHEID: Farming community takes to the streets

Sibhidla-Saphetha indicated that the committee will fast-track the amendment of the legislation that prohibits farm dwellers from building their structures using bricks but only mud. She also stated that the committee will ensure that the land claim from Hellberg Farm is attended to as soon as possible.

With regards to services and children not being able to attend schools, she said, “We will work hand-in-hand with the municipality in ensuring that people have access to essential services such as water. We will also ensure that scholar transport has access to take the children to school. These are shortterm plans; we will also have medium- and long-term plans for this farm. These shortterm solutions will be implemented in less than three months.”

The Ward Councillor, Magda Viktor, said she was not aware of what was happening at Hellberg Farm.

“The only time I have ever received a complaint from that farm was around 2016/17. So how can I assist when I am not being informed of anything? Also, that is a private property, but I normally assist in other farms that fall within my ward because they do inform me when something is happening. I was not aware until the Legislature people approached me about this issue a week before they came this weekend.”

Owner of Hellberg Farm, Horst, said he had not received any feedback from the meeting that was held over the weekend.

“I was expecting the Legislature to come to the farm on Saturday after that meeting and I still have not received any feedback from that meeting. I do not even know what transpired,” said Hellberg.

He indicated that he was not aware of what took place when the sheriff came with the demolition order.

“I do not know what transpired when the sheriff came with the order, and what he does when he is executing his duties has nothing to do with me. So who he brings and how he carries out his work is entirely left to him; it’s his choice.

“The reason for the demolition order was because they had started building in a new site which did not belong to them, not that they were being evicted,” he added.

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