The Buys family who lost everything on 10 February when the Princess Informal Settlement squatters torched their property after accusing Peter Buys of murdering one of their residents, visited the site last Wednesday accompanied by heavily armed security guards.
Peter and Maria Buys took a quantity surveyor, a builder, representatives of their insurance company as well as two guards and the Record to the site after the loss adjusters only awarded R1 million for the R 4 million property. This value excludes their possessions.
A visibly emotional Maria and Peter told of the trauma of seeing their dogs that was burnt to death by the squatters. They walked around the property in a daze as they inspected the once beautiful property that has now been reduced to a skeletal reminder of the soul of the country.
As it stands the Buys’ has nothing left and are currently staying with friends. All five families that lived on the property, including their workers and their families, has been displaced and they have paid out of their own pockets to relocate the workers.
Peter, with hands trembling, expressed his disgust with his insurance company whom after a 30-year relationship are only willing to pay out the meagre amount.
“I do not know if there will be any positive outcome,” said Peter who has now taken his claim to be handled by the South African Special Risk Insurance Association (Sasria). “We can not rebuild and move back due to the threat to our lives and nobody will want to buy the land after what took place,” said Peter.
Maria recalled the day and evening and said she phoned the police’s flying squad five times to no avail. She also said the police did not open a murder case against Peter and does not plan to. The Buys’ family does not own a firearm but the murder victim was shot.
In another bitter twist Maria had an emotional breakdown and was hospitalised three days after visiting the property.
