Farm dweller abuse shocks MEC
Masango
Media Statement
21 July 2008
MEC Siphosezwe Masango of the
Mpumalanga Department of Safety
and Security is shocked
subsequent to revelations that
residents of a farm in Stoffberg
are living in fear after the
farm owner repeatedly threatened
them with violence and eviction
if they do not abide by his
rules.
This has allegedly led to the
recent death of an 82-year
elderly woman, Ms Nonyathi
Mahlangu who died after
allegedly been intimidated and
harassed by the farmer.
The revelation came to light on
Friday when the MEC visited the
deceased family homestead at the
farm following an invitation by
some concerned farm dwellers.
Masango, the Executive Mayor of
Emakhazeni Municipality, Ms
Linkie Mohlala and the Acting
Provincial Commissioner, Pumza
Makanya-Ojowuro visited the farm
to confirm allegations of
harassment leveled by the
residents against the farmer.
On their arrival, they
discovered that the local
residents were bitter on what is
happening in the area. The
residents claimed that the owner
had started to construct a road
closer to the family houses,
forcing them to demolish some of
their shacks and not to use some
of the portion of their plots.
A concerned representative of
the residents, Mr Michael Ntuli
claimed that the construction of
the road was the main reason
which caused the collapse and
subsequent death of the elderly
woman. “The elderly woman showed
signs of depression immediately
after the farmer started to
construct the road.
He left his material at the
woman’s place, and when
returning, he claimed that some
of the logs he left were
missing. He then took a log and
chased the woman, but ended
breaking one of the doors in the
household,” said Ntuli.
According to Ntuli, the road
which is being constructed by
the farmer leads to a mountain
and will have to cut through the
families’ properties.
Masango attributed the action by
the farmer on the fact that the
land was still under claim by
these families. “Maybe it is a
way by the farmer to drive the
residents away from the farm so
he can get rid of the claimants
of the farm,” he said.
He then requested the SAPS
Provincial Commissioner to look
at ways of protecting the farm
dwellers so that they are not
harassed or intimidated by the
farmer, by ensuring that the
police do what is expected of
them.
Due to the seriousness of the
matter, Masango ordered that all
cases involving the abuse of
farm dwellers in the area of
Emakhazeni be reinvestigated for
possible prosecution of the
suspects as the residents
complained that farmers do as
they wish because the police
always support them (farmers).
However, he instructed that the
reinvestigation should not be
confined to the Emakhazeni
Municipality only, but be
extended to other parts of the
province where there were
reports of human rights
violation by rogue farmers.
“I also want to meet with the
farmers of this area and Agri
Mpumalanga so that we can
discuss possible solutions on
this matter,” he said.
Several allegations of abuse of
farm workers were also reported
to Masango. Most of them were
first reported to the police,
and the farm dwellers claimed
that nothing had been done by
the police. However, they
claimed that cases reported by
farmers where urgently attended
to by the police and suspects
were arrested.
The residents also claimed that
in other instances, when they
call the police, they are told
that police do not service their
area, whereas they urgently
respond to calls made by the
farmers.
The Acting Provincial
Commissioner, Deputy
Commissioner Makanya-Ojowuro was
appalled by these allegations.
She promised that all
allegations made against the
SAPS will be investigated
accordingly and reports will be
regularly sent to the office of
the MEC.
For more information please
contact Joseph Mabuza at 013 766
4055 or 082 678 1450
Issued by: Department of Safety
and Security, Mpumalanga
Provincial Government
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