farm

Community members in Kranskop in KwaZulu-Natal where tensions flared and crops were set alight on a farm on Monday night. Image via twitter: Yasantha Naidoo, @yasantha

Land dispute: Local community burns KwaZulu-Natal farm [watch]

Local community members are left fuming after a farmer dug up graves to plant mielies.

farm

Community members in Kranskop in KwaZulu-Natal where tensions flared and crops were set alight on a farm on Monday night. Image via twitter: Yasantha Naidoo, @yasantha

Local community members have set fire to a Kranskop farm in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, following a fierce dispute regarding land and burial rights.

According to Times Live, the reasons for the tension in the area stem from a farmers decision to dig up graves in order to plant mielies.

Farmer disrespected the ancestors

Outraged, the local community descended on the Aussicht Farm on Monday night after learning that the farmer had graded the cemetery held sacred by traditional customs in the area.

Protests levelled at the local farmer resulted in crops being set alight and nearby roads being blockaded.

Law enforcement agencies were called to the scene and attempted to diffuse the tense situation.

Calm was only restored once the local chief personally addressed the angry crowd, pleading for calm and resolution.

Another spark in the land debate powder keg

Following a meeting with Carl Gathmann, the farmer responsible for the sacrilege, the local chief assured irate locals that the situation would be rectified.

Local inkosi Zakhele Sithole cited that this issue formed part of the bigger picture regarding land reform, especially within in the current context of land expropriation without compensation.

Sithole added that the community would be avenged by getting its land back, following a meeting on 15 August, saying:

“It has been agreed that a meeting will be convened on August 15 to find a solution. The KZN agriculture MEC‚ Themba Mthembu‚ and representatives from rural development and land reform will be invited to take part in the meeting. I think on that day we will find a solution and get the land we want. But if there is no solution you must continue what you are doing.”

The local chief maintained that a solution to the land debate would be reconciled, but that if a solution would fail to materialise, then the farm would face further destruction, saying:

“Our ancestors won’t forsake us because we are doing what we are supposed to do.”

Gathmann has yet to comment on the situation.