Ashville farming community fear land invasions

A group of farmers in the once sleepy rolling hills of Ashville fear their life’s work is at risk amid alleged ongoing land invasions.

Dozens of hectares of sugar cane have been cleared in the area, 12km inland of KwaDukuza, over the past two months after it was announced that the Ashville Primary School would be upgraded to high school status in 2024.

With the upgrade comes a tarred access road and likely better services, forming a perfect opportunity for the alleged invaders to build early and wait.

It is also alleged that a clause of the upgrade states that 50% of labour needs to be sourced locally and the farmers believe this has contributed to the invasions.

The Ashville community is made up of around 30 small scale sugar cane farmers, many of whom farm the same land their forebears did over the previous century.

“I have lived here my entire life. My husband used to farm and I have done so since he died, it is my livelihood,” said resident Renuka Somaroo.

“So far, 17 hectares of my land and 20 hectares of leased land have been cleared. We do not know how to stop this and safeguard ourselves and the 80 jobs we support.”

Somaroo said they had approached KwaDukuza Municipality (KDM) and KwaDukuza Saps, with the latter joining a public meeting on the matter two weeks ago.

“A member of KwaDukuza Saps came and spoke to the people after we opened cases, but still the process is ongoing and they haven’t stopped,” she said.

KwaDukuza Saps did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

No significant construction of homes has begun, but large swathes of cane have been cleared and burned and poles have been erected, believed to be for electricity connections.

Somaroo estimates damages in the millions to her crop.

Aside from the loss of land and income, the families also worry about the children who attend the school who may soon have to walk past the makeshift houses.

When the Courier visited last month, multiple people were seen walking with pangas, which appeared to be for clearing the cane.

Nevertheless, it is a real cause for concern as little appears to be done to stem the tide of alleged invasions.

KDM confirmed that the school would be extended until Grade 10 next year, inclusive of a tarred road but said they could not deal with invasions on private land.

“Some farmers have approached the municipality regarding land invasions. Because this is private property the municipality cannot enforce removal of illegal settlers. However, property owners can approach the law-enforcement agencies and the court for help,” said KDM spokesperson, Sifiso Zulu.

Somaroo said the area had previously been cited in land claims discussions but that nothing had been shown to her to prove the case.

“We have no problem leaving if we are fairly paid for our land, but will not do so for free.”

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