WATCH: Eden Park residents join Khoisan march for acknowledgement and land rights
Eden Park was among the communities that marched on September 3, with members declaring that Khoisan law and nationhood cannot be denied.
Members of the Eden Park community participated in a historic march to the Gauteng Legislature on September 3, calling for the acknowledgement of Khoisan nationhood and customary law.
Eden Park joined other communities, including Westbury, Eldorado Park, Ennerdale, Davidsonville, and Eersterust, in solidarity for the cause.
The march began at the Library Garden, where participants sang, chanted, and performed a cleansing ritual by burning impepho. Derrick Wilkinson explained that the purpose of this ritual was “to cleanse the space and declare that there shall be no bloodshed, but peace and harmony.”
@albertonrecord Khoisan people march from Library Garden to Gauteng Legislature building. Read more on our website: albertonrecord.co.za #Khoisan #March ♬ original sound – Alberton Record
The march concluded with the handing over of a memorandum, read by Larry Varrie junior, to Gauteng Legislature member Dalton Adams (MPL).
The memorandum was not framed as a plea but as a declaration of rights already affirmed by constitutional law, international law and historical fact.
It proclaimed that Khoisan law is the first law of South Africa, predating colonial conquest and surviving through apartheid and democracy alike.
It emphasised that nationhood does not depend on state recognition but exists inherently, rooted in heritage and unbroken ties to the land.
The Richtersveld Constitutional Court ruling of 2003 was cited as proof that Khoisan customary law remains valid and binding.
The document further demanded that the state:
- Officially recognise the Khoisan as the First Indigenous People of South Africa.
- Revoke or amend the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act (2019), which it says undermines Khoisan sovereignty.
- Implement the South African Human Rights Commission’s findings on Khoisan rights.
- Guarantee Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) in all land, mining and resource-related deals.
- Restore land rights affirmed in Richtersveld and cease practices of dispossession.
- Ensure Khoisan participation in national frameworks like BEE and BBBEE in accordance with their own customary law structures.
The memorandum accused the democratic government of continuing apartheid’s legacy for 31 years by denying recognition, blocking access to land and excluding Khoisan communities from benefit-sharing frameworks.
@albertonrecord Larry Varrie Jnr reads out the memorandum to MPL Dalton Adams #Khoisan #March ♬ original sound – Alberton Record
Adams, visibly moved, acknowledged the leadership of Chief Larry Varrie senior and paid tribute to several figures in the Khoisan struggle, including young activist Varrie junior, whose passion he praised. Receiving the memorandum on behalf of the legislature, Adams pledged to forward it to the relevant departments and spheres of government.
@albertonrecord Adams, visibly moved, acknowledged the leadership of Chief Larry Varrie senior and paid tribute to several figures in the Khoisan struggle, including young activist Varrie junior, whose passion he praised. Receiving the memorandum on behalf of the legislature, Adams pledged to forward it to the relevant departments and spheres of government. #Khoisan #March ♬ original sound – Alberton Record
“I will make sure that it reaches the relevant people,” Adams said. “There must be timelines connected to it. It cannot be indefinite. The life of our people has gone on for thousands of years without recognition. That must change.”
For Eden Park residents, the day carried particular significance. Community leaders stressed that their participation was about standing for recognition not only for the Khoisan but also for generations in coloured communities who continue to feel excluded from their heritage and identity.
Varrie senior captured the sentiment of many when he said, “We are handing over this memorandum to the person that we trust, who will make sure it reaches its destination. For 31 years we have had a government, but nothing has changed; only the colour of the oppressor has changed.”
@albertonrecord Larry Varrie senior captured the sentiment of many when he said: “We are handing over this memorandum to the person that we trust, who will make sure it reaches its destination. For 31 years we have had a government, but nothing has changed; only the colour of the oppressor has changed.” Read full story on our website: albertonrecord.co.za #Khoisan #March ♬ original sound – Alberton Record
The Eden Park community’s involvement highlighted its place in the broader struggle for Khoisan recognition. For many residents, the march was not just about history but also about demanding action and ensuring their voices are heard in shaping the future.
