Farmers to sue over controversial Tsabong West farms
Zolani Kraai | Friday January 31, 2014 17:40
Farmers to
sue over
controversial Tsabong West farms
ZOLANI KRAAI
Correspondent
T
hree Khweyane communal area farmers and residents of Maubelo in the Tsabong catchment area will next month register a case of restitution of rights with the High court.
According to the farmers' spokesperson, Richard White, the decision to take the matter to court was reached after they lost their appeal over the matter at the land tribunal in 2012.
They are hoping that the court will show how hard done by they were when the farms in question were allocated.
'We feel the Kgalagadi Landboard (KGLB) has denied us our rights without a hearing,' said White. He said the case would expose the rot.
White is optimistic of a win saying they have facts to justify their case. 'We are raising funds and we are getting the support we have long anticipated.'
In September 2012, the Land Tribunal dismissed the main appellants, namely Tapologo Bojang, William Matswiri and Richard White's objections to the allocations of farms IL-3, IL-4 and IL-6.
These said farms belong to Frikkie du Preez, Hendrick van Romburch and Thomas van Zyl respectively. The Kgalagadi Landboard has since refused to provide information pertaining to the lease agreements of the disputed farms.
Notwithstanding, the Minster of Lands Lebonaamang Mokalake had in February 2013 told Parliament in that indeed the Kgalagadi Land Board without feasibility studies allocated the said farms. He said he saw no need to challenge the move.
Member of Parliament Kgatleng East Isaac Mabiletsa had asked the minister whether there any cases of farms and game ranches allocated by the Kgalagadi Landboard where fencing feasibility study was not conducted, if so what action will be taken to address the matter.
At the same time, the Kgalagadi Landboard, in official communication to the Kgalagadi District Council stated that the said farms were properly allocated.
According to the farmers' spokesperson, Richard White, the decision to take the matter to court was reached after they lost their appeal over the matter at the land tribunal in 2012. They are hoping that the court will show how hard done by they were when the farms in question were allocated.
'We feel the Kgalagadi Landboard (KGLB) has denied us our rights without a hearing,' said White. He said the case would expose the rot. White is optimistic of a win saying they have facts to justify their case. 'We are raising funds and we are getting the support we have long anticipated.' In September 2012, the Land Tribunal dismissed the main appellants, namely Tapologo Bojang, William Matswiri and Richard White's objections to the allocations of farms IL-3, IL-4 and IL-6. These said farms belong to Frikkie du Preez, Hendrick van Romburch and Thomas van Zyl respectively.
The Kgalagadi Landboard has since refused to provide information pertaining to the lease agreements of the disputed farms. Notwithstanding, the Minster of Lands Lebonaamang Mokalake had in February 2013 told Parliament in that indeed the Kgalagadi Land Board without feasibility studies allocated the said farms. He said he saw no need to challenge the move.Member of Parliament Kgatleng East Isaac Mabiletsa had asked the minister whether there any cases of farms and game ranches allocated by the Kgalagadi Landboard where fencing feasibility study was not conducted, if so what action will be taken to address the matter. At the same time, the Kgalagadi Landboard, in official communication to the Kgalagadi District Council stated that the said farms were properly allocated.