A total of 80 stands were destroyed the previous weekend due to a feud over land claims where people spent approximately R20,000 each buying sites in Twyfelhoek Farm near Nseka towards Gluckstadt in Vryheid.
The owner of the farm, Sharon Stone, opened a case of trespassing in June and a week later, she learned that portions of her land were being sold to people as residential sites. A total of 15 beneficiaries who used to live in Stone’s farm had applied for land claims through the Department of Rural Development & Land Reform.
“This claim was lodged by Simon Vilakazi in 1998 on behalf of the Twyfelhoek Farm community, which is referred to as the people who were staying and working on the farm and also buried on the farm. The government has failed us by procrastinating the valuing of the overall property, which is left to finalise this claim,” said one of the claimants who wanted to remain anonymous following alleged threats after the sites were demolished on Saturday.
The claimant said her uncle lodged the claim on December 22, 1998. “In total, there are 15 beneficiaries who were able to identify the tombstones on the farm in the presence of Thabsile Xulu from the Department of Rural Development & Land Reform.”
“When we were done with the demolition, there was drama from people who were selling the land illegally. They took it upon themselves to exploit people by selling stands on Mrs Stone’s land that they knew very well they had no right to do. They had initially started on the other portion of the land that is across the road from the dam behind the Independent Baptist Church farm. They sold it in bits and pieces.
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“This is fraud and people advised that they were really not aware of this. The police advised that the only way to fight this legally and peacefully was to obtain a court order. On August 19, the court order was granted by the High Court. The Sheriff of the Court went to the property to serve the court order notices to the people on the property and the 80 stands that were already on the property, subdivided by wire and poles. These stands were allegedly sold for R20,000 and some for R30,000. The sad reality is that the people who bought the stands were scammed out of a total of over R1,500,000 when you calculate on an average of R20,000 per stand,” narrated the claimant.
She indicated that she had no personal relation with Stone, except that of the land claim.
“We have no personal relationship. I’m just a beneficiary to this land claim and my aim is to assist in the finalisation of the claim to get the farmers (Mrs Stone of Portion 0 of the Twyfelhoek Farm and Mr Peter Maree of Portion 1 of the Twyfelhoek Farm) paid what is rightfully theirs and the beneficiaries get the farm officially handed to them by the government.
“Honestly, I remember the death threats directed at me and my family, and how this is unlawful. The Sheriff explained everything, but I guess it was just their way of trying to calm the people down. I trust God throughout this whole situation. I know I am fighting a good fight. I have not taken anyone’s money and I would never. My hands and my heart are clean. I just wish to get the Department of Rural Development & Land Reform to take priority of this case,” added the claimant.
One of the people who had bought a stand and was busy starting with the foundation when the police and sheriff arrived, said, “I was not aware that there was a dispute over these stands. I am glad this happened before I could start building; imagine how much money I would have lost! I am no longer going to do anything on this stand until I know for sure that I am in the clear. This has just opened my eyes about buying a site.”
At the time of going to print, the department had not responded to questions sent last week.
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