Trichardt farmer evicts family

TRICHARDT – A farm owner, Mr Koos van der Merwe, allegedly evicted the Masango family without a court order, in the presence of police recently. The family said they were shocked that they were victimised in the presence of police and Lt Loyise Ngqangashe, station commander. Mr Vusi Masango, family member, wanted to know how the police can see a person committing a crime and not arrest him. He said after the incident he went to the Trichardt Police Station to open a case and police refused to open one, apparently on the instruction of Lt Ngqangashe. “Police failed us and watched as Mr Van der Merwe destroyed all we had. “We had to go to the Leandra Police Station for an affidavit.” The family contacted the Ridge Times and after the newspaper’s intervention, the police finally opened a case of malicious damage of property. Lt Ngqangashe said it is true that she did not see any eviction order however she was instructed by her superiors to monitor the situation. She admitted that it was a mistake that they refused to open a case for the family. The Masango family said they have been staying on the farm for more than 70 years.