EIGHTY-NINE farm dwellers in Goo-Mokgatlha in Koffiekraal, North West have been living without water and electricity for over a year.
They claim this is a way for Communal Property Association (CPA) members to chase them off the farm.
Community representative George Molefe (39) said they will not leave the farm as their forefathers are buried there.
“It’s painful to be treated like animals on a farm we worked on for most of our lives. We don’t have running water and power. We don’t know why CPA won’t help us,” he said.
But CPA chairman Peter Phefo denied all allegations.
“The tenants are lying when they say the land belongs to them.
“They originally come from Botswana. When the farm owner sold the land, we got land for them to live on with no water and electricity, but they refused. Their reasons for not wanting to leave the farm was that their elders are buried on that land.” said Phefo.
Ramotshere Moiloa Municipality and Moses Kotane Municipality both denied claims of being responsible for the area.
Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development spokesman Frank Lesenyego said the department engaged farm occupiers and water and electricity will be restored. He said the land is under CPA administration.
“Upon investigation by the department through conducting the land rights inquiry, it was established that the farm had five long term occupiers (households) when the land was transferred to the Communal Property Association. Other farm dwellers who are currently on the farm are illegal occupiers,” said Lesenyego.
