Livestock farmers still live in fear

LIVESTOCK farmers are still living in fear at Ntambanana.
After alleged brutal attacks on herd boys by members of the Isikebhe Community Forum, which left many seriously injured and hospitalised, residents fear the forum’s violent tactics for ‘justice’ are far from over.
Outraged community members voiced their concerns when they recently came face-to-face with Isikebhe members at the Ngwelezana Magistrate’s Court.
The community came out in support of farmer Nokwethemba Biyela (62), who opened a criminal case against Isikebhe after the group apparently threatened her and attacked herd boys on her farm.
‘With the court case still ongoing, we fear these violent attacks will not stop now,’ said one resident.
Isikebhe is a community crime-fighting association affiliated to the KZN Department of Community Safety and Liaison (KZNDCSL).
Their main aim is to reduce stock theft and bring criminals to book.
According to residents, however, their methods to seek justice are unorthodox and a violation of human rights.
‘Their actions to discover the truth are fraught with intimidation, assaults and questionable methods.
‘They don’t produce any identification and their violent behaviour has resulted in injuries and deaths.
They burn people’s feet during interrogations. People have rights and can’t be treated like animals,’ an angry resident said.
Court case
Both parties appeared in court last month to try and iron out the issues, but the case was postponed to provide Biyela time to acquire legal representation.
‘I wrote letters to the KZN Premier and SAPS Commissioner in search of answers, because I am being harassed by these people.
‘They have accused me of being involved in some of these thefts but they don’t have any evidence. That’s why I opened the case,’ Biyela said.
Since the alleged attacks on her farm, the 62-year-old pensioner has moved from her home as she fears for her life.
‘I am still fearful of living on the farm because I don’t know when they will barge in and attack us again,’ she said.
‘They previously took one of my herd boys to the Luwamba cemetery where he was beaten. When they first introduced this group we thought it would be an answer to our problems because we do have an issue of stock theft, but police have to be involved as well, not just a group of men who don’t ask questions but only terrorise people.’
Biyela has called for government leaders to intervene and curb the attacks.
The case was postponed to Tuesday, 4 April.