Makgoba community pleads for help from G20 countries

A war of words is brewing between the Westfalia Fruit Company and residents of Makgoba, who own a series of agricultural plantations in Limpopo.

The fallout could affect the export of important citrus fruits to countries attending the G20 Presidency Summit in SA later this year.

At the centre of the dispute are allegations that Westfalia is exporting fresh avocados while communities, who own the land, live from hand to mouth.

The company exports avocados to international countries, including the UK, Netherlands, France, Spain, Germany, Canada, Costa Rica, Argentina, Japan, UAE, Saudi Arabia and South Korea.

Now, the Makgoba community, which won back the land from the Limpopo Land Claims Commission in 2009, is pleading with G20 countries to help them.

“About 90% of our community remains unemployed while the company is making so much profit from our fertile land,” said Frans Kubjana, spokesperson for Makgoba Concerned Group on Friday.  

Kubjana said jobs in the company were given to foreigners, allegedly some undocumented.

“This is because Westfalia prefers cheap labour over South Africans.

“Despite having a mutual understanding to train our children, school them and develop our communities, Westfalia continues to snub us and collect good profits in an endeavour to line their pockets. Unfortunately, they do this at the expense of our fertile ancestral land. 

“We want presidents of countries doing business with Westfalia in the G20 to intervene. If not, we will close the business and show them the door.”

Westfalia Fruit denies the claims

Westfalia Fruit called the allegations baseless and devoid of truth.

“Makgoba Community members are making unfounded allegations against Westfalia Fruit,” said Bomikazi Molapo, head of communications at Westfalia Fruit Africa.

Molapo said Westfalia has a zero-tolerance policy towards abusive or disruptive behaviour and takes the well-being of all its staff and stakeholders seriously. 

“Westfalia has always been committed to supporting the local communities, amongst them, the Makgoba community. We are proud to provide resources, training and reliable market access to all eligible smallholder farmers and community traders.

“While our community supply programme continues as normal, it is important to clarify that we recently notified a fruit trader that their access to Westfalia Fruit’s operations and facilities has been revoked.

“This is the result of a sustained pattern of disruptive and aggressive conduct towards staff and community members, including persistent disregard for agreed codes of conduct, which has been repeatedly addressed with the individual both in person and in writing.

“We remain open to constructive dialogue through appropriate channels and we are committed to transparency and positive development in all our operations,” she said.

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Land claims

The Limpopo Regional Land Claims Commission has successfully settled and finalised a significant number of land claims in the province.

The commission has 5 916 settled land claims, with 1 305 outstanding. 

Additionally, the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights (CRLR) has finalised 641 claims and settled 362 claims against its targets to date.

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