Burgersfort SAPS slow to react to land claim court orders
Boshoff got word of trespassers on his property, Leuwvallei farm located in turn. For days he did not get support from the Burgersfort SAPS.
BURGERSFORT – During a land-grab incident on Thursday on the Leeuwvallei farm, the SAPS refused to remove trespassers, despite an interim court order being obtained.
Piet Boshoff (70), owner of the farm, said that everything seemed to be calming down after trespassers invaded his land last Wednesday. Advocate Marisa Naudé released a final warrant to the Sherriff, the SAPS and the police commissioner as per the instructions of Boshoff’s attorney, Chanta van der Walt, for the removal of the trespassers.
To open a case, Boshoff went to the Burgersfort Police Station. However, the officer on duty refused to open a case of trespassing.
Boshoff then approached AfriForum, who contacted the station commander to lay a charge. Even though the case was registered, Burgersfort SAPS did not make any effort to remove the trespassers from the property.
Boshoff’s attorney obtained an interim court order in the Limpopo High Court in Polokwane for the removal of all trespassers and all structures erected on Boshoff’s property by the Sheriff and SAPS due to permanent structures (shacks), being erected on the property on Wednesday. Still the Burgersfort SAPS did not take action.
Boshoff was attacked on his property twice by members of this community, who threw stones at him, in the process damaging his vehicle.
“The same property is in the process of township development which will result in job creation for these very same people,” Van der Walt explained.
Stands are allegedly being sold for R2 500 each. The buyer’s name is then put on a list by a clerk with a deposit paid to a specific businessman in town.
The senior officer of the Commissioner of Police in Polokwane provided Boshoff’s attorney with feedback from Burgersfort SAPS, stating that the court order was not to evict respondents from the farm, but merely to inform them to stop erecting shacks and to notify them about the return date, August 14 given by Judge Kanyago.
The issue is still ongoing and pending. “I was informed by the opposing attorney that Dali Mpofu SC of the EFF will handle their case, but he was not present during Tuesday’s court proceedings,” Van der Walt said. The case has been postponed until August 21.
• By time of going to press, Steelburger/Lydenburg News was on the scene where Burgersfort SAPS was cooperating in removing individuals and structures from the land.
