Confusion is at its highest degree with people claiming land without the proper proof and process. Fraudulent claims are causing conflict among communities. These claims are being officiated by government officials. It is daylight robbery as land and farms are being incorrectly allocated.
This is theft. The truth will always surface.
Firstly, if one claims a place or piece of land, graves must be the first point of reference. Secondly you or your forefathers should’ve lived there for more than ten years. Thirdly, a proof of eviction must be produced to show that you or your forefathers were forcefully removed from the area. Now let us use Zaailaager in this order. Firstly in Zaailaager the Bushmen people lived here until the arrival of the British. The British needed to do farming and found it difficult with the Bushmen in the surrounding areas. It was then that the British fetched members of the Amahlubi tribe to assist.
There were no other tribes besides this tribe in the area and they were placed in the Loskop area. The Bushmen experienced forceful removal and eviction from the Zaailaager areas for the first time.
The arrival of the Zulu tribe through Rensburgdrift also caused evictions and forceful removal of the Bushmen people.
A strong British force took control of Estcourt. Fort Durnford was built and Zaailaager was now a prime area for farming.
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The Group Areas Act came into power and so did the classification of Bushmen people to coloured.
This caused the first eviction of classified coloured people. The second eviction was carried out by the municipality of the time and they forcefully removed classified coloured people to Khwezi and after a fight, the farm owner made a statement in her will that Zaailaager belongs to the classified coloured people.
This then made the municipality of that time develop Zaailaager into a coloured township. Zaailaager is far bigger than Colita. Colita is only a quarter of Zaailaager and no one can prove their stay on this piece of land. All those who place their claims will be tested in the high court.
We are now tired of people claiming unlawfully that has delayed our development. Our history is our heritage and we want a handover. The township as such is a historical landmark that points to our classification and suffering. The graves point to our heritage. The oral history is proof of our long life on Zaailaager.
Estcourt as a whole belongs to us and we can prove that claim. Now the high court must prove on paper that the Zaailaager Trust was dissolved and who are the owners.
The municipality was only the ‘foster parent’ who failed to protect the trust and the land. Both the municipality and restitution department failed the owners of the land, who are the Bushmen people who were later classified coloured. Our claim has been placed and we are awaiting the handover. Whoever claims ownership of Zaailaager must prove it, if not then the law must take its course. The Khoisan Action will take this matter to the high court. We believe we can live together but we must respect each other.
READ MORE: KZN Khoisan Development Trust is formed
We must not rob each other and what is ours must be given to us. We are the first people of this country and I am a Prince of my people. I need our land urgently.
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The history speaks for itself. Fraudulent processes will take you to jail or you will have to pay a fine. If you are desperate, pull back your claim so you do not make yourself a fool.
Find the right claim and we will help you.
Prince Raymond Trollip
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