Eviction looms for family of seven
The family is adamant that they will not vacate the land, despite a court order for their eviction
LIMPOPO – A court order has called for the eviction of a family of farm dwellers in the Blouberg area.
The court order states the Blouberg Municipality was to find alternative land for the family to occupy once they leave the farm. The municipality has set aside 10 residential stands to accommodate the family and also offered to transport them and their belongings. The sites are in Tolwe, approximately 30km away from the farm where they are being evicted, also under the Blouberg Municipality, Capricorn District.
However, according to Communications Manager for the Department of Rural Land Development and Land Reform, Avhashoni Magada, the family rejected the land identified for them by the municipality and insist they will not move from the farm.
The Selomo family was ordered by the Land Claims Court to vacate the farm following a lengthy dispute between the family and the farm owner. On 23 June, the court ruled in favour of the land owner, Desmond Doman to have seven members of the Selomo family evicted last week, and ordered the municipality to find alternative land for the family.
The eviction, which was to take place last Wednesday, is now scheduled for tomorrow (8 December).
“This is a piece of land measuring 61ha and valued at R900 000 that was purchased by the department in 2008/9 in an attempt to pro-actively ensure that in the event that farm dwellers and farm workers find themselves in situations like these, there is alternative land available for their relocation.
“After the acquisition of the said piece of land it was transferred to the Blouberg Municipality for future settlements,” Magada said.
“The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform and the political principals from the Blouberg Local Municipality jointly visited the farm on 21 November to engage with the affected family on the implications of not abiding by the decision of the court.”
“Unfortunately, they indicated they were not prepared to vacate the farm, but the mayor advised them to pack their belongings so that in the event that the sheriff comes, there is minimum damage to their belongings,” he said.
“They were informed that should they change their minds at the eleventh hour – they are still welcome to call the municipality for urgent assistance,” Magada said.
Throughout the court case, the department assisted the family with legal representation through the Land Rights Management Facility; the facility offers professional mediation and legal services to farm residents facing evictions. The department tried to purchase the portion of the farm where the evictees are residing for the purposes of legally securing their tenure, but the owner did not opt for selling.
A member of the Selomo family, Gabriel Selomo (68) said they would not relocate, and were willing to die on the land.
