A land grab battle erupted yesterday as two communities fought to stake their claim on a cattle farmer’s property.
Police were called in as more than 300 people moved onto the 300ha farm and began marking out sites. This followed weekend action by another community to demarcate their plots on the land.
Police say although they have taken statements from six people, they have yet to make any arrests. Cases of trespassing and malicious damage to property have however been opened.
The Bedford Farm just outside Mthatha is owned by Thalala Vikilahle, who died in July. His son Siseko has been running the farm since his death.
Yesterday a contingent of officers from different policing units were called in when a group of KwaLindile residents arrived on the farm with a tractor and started marking out sites. The invasion by the KwaLindile group comes just days after residents of Mthatha West claimed their stake by outlining plots.
Police yesterday arrested the driver and impounded the tractor, which was released later yesterday.
KwaLindile residents then went to Mthatha Central Police Station where their leadership met with police management.
In a temporary show of solidarity, hundreds of residents from KwaLindile and Mthatha West protested outside the police station demanding the release of the tractor and driver.
Traffic in the area was interrupted for almost an hour.
The KwaLindile community, who with residents of Zimbane successfully claimed large portions of land in Mthatha, said Bedford Farm belonged to them. However, Mthatha West also claims ownership.
KwaLindile headman Mlamli Njemla said they would not have invaded the farm had it not been for residents from Mthatha West.
“We know Mr Vikilahle holds ownership of the farm, which is part of our land. But since Mthatha West have many times successfully grabbed many pieces of land, we decided to protect what is ours, fearing that Vikilahle was to lose again,” Njemla said.
“We cannot have this farm lost to them, we will do whatever we do to fight for it and we will never allow Mthatha West to occupy it illegally.”
Mthatha West leader Bishop Zola Yolelo said there was no bad blood between them and KwaLindile. “This farm is part of the five farms given to us by then Premier Makhenkesi Stofile in 1995,” Yolelo claimed.
Siseko said his family had been farming there for almost 30 years. “We bought the farm in 2005 after leasing it from the state in 1986,” he said.
Since 2004, the Vikilahle family has been targeted by illegal land grabs.
The farm has in the past been demarcated into sites, which were sold for between R500 and R7000 – all without their consent.
In 2010 the Mthatha High Court granted the Vikilahles an order to demolish all the houses on the farm. However, last-minute negotiations saved the day for close on 30 families where only the partially-built homes were destroyed.
But land grabs started again over the weekend and a 2013 high court order came into effect.
Eastern Cape Land Claims Commissioner Zukile Pityi said Bedford Farm was not part of the KwaLindile land claim and ruling of the Constitutional Court.
“The farm belongs to Mr Vikilahle. It was state land, which he leased for many years and later bought,” Pityi said.
But Njemla denied this.
Police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Dineo Koena said cases of trespassing and malicious damage to property had been opened. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
Police act as factions face off in land grab
Police were called in as more than 300 people moved onto the 300ha farm and began marking out sites. This followed weekend action by another community to demarcate their plots on the land.
Police say although they have taken statements from six people, they have yet to make any arrests. Cases of trespassing and malicious damage to property have however been opened.
The Bedford Farm just outside Mthatha is owned by Thalala Vikilahle, who died in July. His son Siseko has been running the farm since his death.
Yesterday a contingent of officers from different policing units were called in when a group of KwaLindile residents arrived on the farm with a tractor and started marking out sites. The invasion by the KwaLindile group comes just days after residents of Mthatha West claimed their stake by outlining plots.
Police yesterday arrested the driver and impounded the tractor, which was released later yesterday.
KwaLindile residents then went to Mthatha Central Police Station where their leadership met with police management.
In a temporary show of solidarity, hundreds of residents from KwaLindile and Mthatha West protested outside the police station demanding the release of the tractor and driver.
Traffic in the area was interrupted for almost an hour.
The KwaLindile community, who with residents of Zimbane successfully claimed large portions of land in Mthatha, said Bedford Farm belonged to them. However, Mthatha West also claims ownership.
KwaLindile headman Mlamli Njemla said they would not have invaded the farm had it not been for residents from Mthatha West.
“We know Mr Vikilahle holds ownership of the farm, which is part of our land. But since Mthatha West have many times successfully grabbed many pieces of land, we decided to protect what is ours, fearing that Vikilahle was to lose again,” Njemla said.
“We cannot have this farm lost to them, we will do whatever we do to fight for it and we will never allow Mthatha West to occupy it illegally.”
Mthatha West leader Bishop Zola Yolelo said there was no bad blood between them and KwaLindile. “This farm is part of the five farms given to us by then Premier Makhenkesi Stofile in 1995,” Yolelo claimed.
Siseko said his family had been farming there for almost 30 years. “We bought the farm in 2005 after leasing it from the state in 1986,” he said.
Since 2004, the Vikilahle family has been targeted by illegal land grabs.
The farm has in the past been demarcated into sites, which were sold for between R500 and R7000 – all without their consent.
In 2010 the Mthatha High Court granted the Vikilahles an order to demolish all the houses on the farm. However, last-minute negotiations saved the day for close on 30 families where only the partially-built homes were destroyed.
But land grabs started again over the weekend and a 2013 high court order came into effect.
Eastern Cape Land Claims Commissioner Zukile Pityi said Bedford Farm was not part of the KwaLindile land claim and ruling of the Constitutional Court.
“The farm belongs to Mr Vikilahle. It was state land, which he leased for many years and later bought,” Pityi said.
But Njemla denied this.
Police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Dineo Koena said cases of trespassing and malicious damage to property had been opened. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
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