KRAAIFONTEIN
Woensdag, 28 Augustus 2019 | Tel: 021 910 6500 | e-pos: nuus@tygerburger.co.za
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The families had to spend days on the side of the road.
KLEIN AKKER FARM: ‘EVICTION WAS AN ACT OF CRUELTY’
Assistance for evicted families THABANG KUAHO @thab_journo
T
he City of Cape Town’s has moved more than 300 people that were evicted from the Klein Akker farm in Kraaifontein to a farm near Stellenbosch on Monday 26 August. This came after the City was ordered to assist the families with housing by the Cape Town high court on Monday 19 August. Most families were staying on the farm for 20 years. They were moved to Mesco farm near Stellenbosch. The judgement entailed that the City make available emergency housing kits at its emergency housing site. “This will be an interim solution to the emergency housing needs of the homeless
occupiers until they are relocated to the identified emergency housing site. This site is currently being prepared,” Mayco member for human settlements Malusi Booi said. Booi said the evicted residents were required to assist the City in writing of their intention to relocate to the identified site where emergency accommodation will be available, within six weeks from the date which the City was notified of their acceptance. “Interim assistance will be provided until the site preparation has been finalised. The City will provide transport to those affected,” he concluded. In a media statement sent to Tygerburger, agricultural organisation Agri Western Cape said it was concerned about the farm to which the residents were relocated to. “The land was used as a bus depot from 1996 and the current owner is a developer.
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The land has not been farmed for over 20 years,” the statement read. Furthermore, chief executive officer of Agri Western Cape Jannie Strydom said the relocation of the families to the “rundown” farm illustrated the inability of government to provide sufficient housing and ownership. “The department must actively seek a permanent and humane solution for these families,” Strydom said. He said that Mcebisi Skwatsha, agriculture, land reform and rural development deputy minister should focus on getting the farm back into production to create jobs. During the eviction, Tygerburger went to the eviction site to speak to some of the residents. Angelique Swanepoel has been living on the farm for 20 years and said the eviction was an act of cruelty. She lives with her three children and part-
ner and she was saddened by the eviction. “The situation is bad, many families have nowhere else to go. We have no choice but to camp next to the road,” she said. “At the time all this was happening, I was shocked and scared that I was going to sleep on the streets with my children.” Swanepoel said different City officials have been coming to the site to get their signatures and promised them that they would be moved to a temporary housing site. “You cannot believe anybody anymore because it is different people coming here every time and it is confusing.” She wants the City to provide the affected families with permanent housing. Another resident, Frandolene Reid said she was tired of all that was happening at the farm. V To page 2.
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