Stellenbosch farm communities to march against eviction notices

According to the eviction notice, about 50 families on Vaaldraai, Elsenburg, Muldersvlei, Kromme Rhee and Helderfontein must leave because the houses they are currently occupying, are needed for work facility housing. Most of the families consist of elderly members who used to work for government. Some of the younger family members still do.

Pekeur says that the current problems started when a few years ago the Department of Transport and Public Works (Public Works) took over the administration of the estates from the Department of Agriculture. Workers were given contracts that stipulated that they need to pay R1,900 rent. Reluctant to sign these contracts, Pekeur says questions directed to Public Works received no answers.

“Instead we received eviction notices. We have asked to meet with Public Works, but they did not even acknowledge receipt of the email. Last week Monday, they wanted to install new electricity boxes in our homes and we resisted that. We didn’t allow any state vehicle to enter Elsenburg last Monday. Eventually people from Public Works came down to find out why we didn’t want the boxes, and we told them that we wanted a meeting with them instead of them making decisions on their own and expecting us to agree with everything without consultation,” Pekeur said.

The residents are marching today in Stellenbosch against their evictions.

Byron La Hoe communication officer for Public Works said “approximately 48 occupants” were given eviction notices. The notices were issued to people not working for government, government officials who have resigned or whose services have been terminated and unlawful occupants. No provision has been made about where they could move to.

La Hoe said the five farms were owned by the Western Cape Government of which Public Works was the custodian of all state immovable assets and that the department was aware of the march that would be taking place tomorrow.

Tammy Evans of the Provincial Department of Agriculture confirmed what La Hoe had said and added that all private tenants, irrespective of employment, pension or comfort, were required to pay market related rent which is R1,900 per month. This falls within the mandate of Public Works.

Community members came one by one in the rain on Tuesday morning, to the Elsenburg church to state their grievances and lack of understanding about why they were being evicted. They said they had never caused any problems. They paid their rates and they didn’t see a reason why they were being kicked out.

Viktor Roberts has been living in Elsenburg for the past 20 years and said the community was started in the early 1940s when the Department of Agriculture wanted to houses workers on site. “It started with five workers and it grew to the township that you see today that is in desperate need of socio-economic development. In 2000 we attempted to get home ownership of these houses but at that time, policies were not quite clear on how to go about this transfer. In 2008 we enquired again about home ownership but nothing was made clear just that it was in the process. In 2009 I heard that there was no casual labour anymore being allowed because that would mean that workers would have to stay in the houses. Us being in this position is a deliberate effort by the Department of Agriculture, now in cahoots with Public Works, to constructively get rid of our community,” said Roberts.

In the mid-1990s the state also tried to evict the Elsenburg residents. According to Pekeur the community fought against the evictions then and eventually managed to keep their houses.