A neighbour with a heart of gold has rescued a homeless family of eight who were kicked off a farm they had called home since 1979.
Thandi Cengani, who lived on Elton Farm near Ngculu Post, outside East London with her husband, Lele – a retired farm worker – their three children and three grandchildren, said the sheriff of the court arrived on Friday and started throwing out their belongings.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, Cengani, 62, said: “The sheriff told us that they were acting on a court order which was applied for by the farm owner, Gareth Smit. We were not given any notice or a chance to seek alternative accommodation.”
She said their belongings had been destroyed in the eviction process and that they know they won’t be compensated.
Cengani said their right to live on the farm arose from an employment agreement between the previous farm owner, George Newey, who was her husband’s employer at the time.
“My husband used to work for Newey’s brother on a farm in Komga where we used to live. Newey offered my husband employment on his farm here in Ngculu with the condition that we could live in the farm’s mud dwellings. When Newey died, his son sold the farm in 2011, and that is when the problems started.”
Cengani said the eviction follows a number of verbal and physical altercations between them and Smit, from accusations of livestock theft and assault charges.
“From the moment Smit took over the farm, he has had a problem with our family. We have been accused of stealing his cows and sheep and assisting unauthorised persons to establish mud huts on the property – accusations that are all untrue.”
She said ward councillor Thobeka Mpendu and resident Nosiviwe Toko came to their rescue.
“Toko has an unoccupied two-bedroomed flat and offered us accommodation until we can find our feet. The councillor also provided us with a vehicle to transport what is left of our belongings,” she said.
Mpendu said although she understands that farm owners had the right to do as they please on their properties, Smit could have at least given them time to find alternative accommodation.
“We are doing all that we can to assist the family and we have already contacted human settlements in efforts to secured a temporary structure for them,” said Mpendu.
Smit told the Dispatch he had been advised by his lawyers not to speak to the media, but said he had no choice but to evict the family. He would not provide the Dispatch with his lawyer’s contact details. — ziphon@dispatch.co.za
Family of eight kicked off farm without notice
Thandi Cengani, who lived on Elton Farm near Ngculu Post, outside East London with her husband, Lele – a retired farm worker – their three children and three grandchildren, said the sheriff of the court arrived on Friday and started throwing out their belongings.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, Cengani, 62, said: “The sheriff told us that they were acting on a court order which was applied for by the farm owner, Gareth Smit. We were not given any notice or a chance to seek alternative accommodation.”
She said their belongings had been destroyed in the eviction process and that they know they won’t be compensated.
Cengani said their right to live on the farm arose from an employment agreement between the previous farm owner, George Newey, who was her husband’s employer at the time.
“My husband used to work for Newey’s brother on a farm in Komga where we used to live. Newey offered my husband employment on his farm here in Ngculu with the condition that we could live in the farm’s mud dwellings. When Newey died, his son sold the farm in 2011, and that is when the problems started.”
Cengani said the eviction follows a number of verbal and physical altercations between them and Smit, from accusations of livestock theft and assault charges.
“From the moment Smit took over the farm, he has had a problem with our family. We have been accused of stealing his cows and sheep and assisting unauthorised persons to establish mud huts on the property – accusations that are all untrue.”
She said ward councillor Thobeka Mpendu and resident Nosiviwe Toko came to their rescue.
“Toko has an unoccupied two-bedroomed flat and offered us accommodation until we can find our feet. The councillor also provided us with a vehicle to transport what is left of our belongings,” she said.
Mpendu said although she understands that farm owners had the right to do as they please on their properties, Smit could have at least given them time to find alternative accommodation.
“We are doing all that we can to assist the family and we have already contacted human settlements in efforts to secured a temporary structure for them,” said Mpendu.
Smit told the Dispatch he had been advised by his lawyers not to speak to the media, but said he had no choice but to evict the family. He would not provide the Dispatch with his lawyer’s contact details. — ziphon@dispatch.co.za
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