Doringkop farmers face land claim

A group of farmers at Sakhamkhanya in Nonoti, towards Doringkop, are angry with the Qwabe tribal authorities after their land has reportedly been sold without their permission.

The farmers are accusing the local induna of selling the land for R800 a plot.

Landowner Enock Mkhwanazi said the land had belonged to his family for a long time.

“Twenty-four hectors of land was bought by my father in the 1950’s. Now they want to take our land by force. The land does not belong to the chief. They have no right to sell it. Should there be any land claim both parties need to sit down and negotiate, they must not simply take it,” said Mkhwanazi.

Another farmer Suresh Dibipersad, who is leasing the land from the Hansaraj Jugunudan family, said the landowners have title deeds.

However, the tribal authorities seem to be not paying much attention to that.

“We want to use the land to farm but now houses are being built on it,” said Dibipersad.

The Courier visited one of these “illegal” houses.

A woman who identified herself as Mrs Makhoba said they bought the land for R800.

“The induna sold this land to us and should there be any problems speak with him. We paid for the land and we have our receipt,” said Mkhoba.

The KwaQwabe chief induna Solomon “Maqhofoza” Gumede said the land was vacant and they thought it would be unfair not to allow people to build their homes on land that was clearly not being used.

“All the land falls under our Chief Gumede and every person under his protection is entitled to land to build their homes. But we will not place people where there is farming taking place,” said Gumede.

After a meeting that was held on Friday at the Qwabe Tribal Court, Gumede said the farmers claimed to have bought the land from Mbozi – yane Chilli.

“Chilli was only acting Chief of the Qwabe area, he did not have the right to sell any land.”

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