Key Takeaways:
- Over 300 families in Limpopo had their homes demolished due to alleged refusal to pay rent to the landowner
- The landowner, Joseph Makgoba, claims that residents had been living on the land rent-free for decades and using municipal services without charge
- A court order was granted to demolish the structures after residents failed to cooperate with efforts to regularise their stay and start paying rent
- Residents were given notice to vacate the property, but some resisted and were eventually forced to leave with the help of the police
- The landowner claims to have spent millions on the case to remove the residents from the land
Introduction to the Demolitions
The recent demolition of over 300 homes in Limpopo has left many families without a place to call their own. The demolitions were carried out after the residents allegedly refused to pay rent to the landowner, Joseph Makgoba, to help with the upkeep of the land and to regularise their stay. The situation has been ongoing for decades, with some residents living on the land since the 1990s without paying rent or using municipal services without charge. The landowner, through the private Makgoba Asset Management company, and with the support of the Makgoba Community Trust, had been trying to regularise the situation, but to no avail.
The Residents’ Perspective
Many of the residents were at work when they received news of the demolitions and rushed home to find their belongings being thrown out and their homes being torn down. Aggrieved resident Leholohonolo Kubajane expressed his frustration and sadness at the situation, stating that they cannot leave a place where their grandparents have been living for a long time. He also mentioned that they grew up in these homes and their children grew up in these homes, making it a significant part of their family’s history. The residents were given notice to vacate the property, but many resisted, leading to a standoff with the police.
The Landowner’s Perspective
Joseph Makgoba, the landowner, claims that he had no choice but to take drastic action to regularise the situation. He stated that the residents had been living on the land rent-free for decades, consuming resources and using municipal services without charge. The Makgoba Community Trust, which represents the original beneficiaries of the land, had raised concerns about the growing informal settlement on the property. Makgoba said that he had issued letters to the residents asking them to begin paying "legitimate amounts" and sign documents to formalise their occupation, but many refused. He also claimed that the trust had spent millions on the case to remove the residents from the land.
The Court Order and Eviction
The Limpopo high court issued an eviction order for the residents on the Remaining Extent of the Farm Middlekop 552 LT. The sheriff served the order on June 17, requiring respondents to vacate by July 17. Some residents were granted until September 17 to vacate the property. However, when the sheriff and the police arrived, the community resisted, leading to a court order that the landowner could not remove them without providing them with a place to stay. The Greater Tzaneen local municipality was ordered to provide temporary accommodation, and the landowner claimed to have booked transportation trucks to take the residents to their desired destination.
The Aftermath
The demolitions have left many families devastated, with some losing their ancestral homes. Devastated resident Lesiba Phethule said that his grandmother’s home was demolished, and it was heartbreaking to know that a family home had been torn down as if it meant nothing to them. The situation has highlighted the need for a more sustainable solution to the housing crisis in South Africa, where many families are forced to live in informal settlements without access to basic services. The landowner’s actions have been met with criticism, with many questioning the morality of demolishing homes without providing adequate alternative accommodation. The situation remains unresolved, with many families still without a place to call their own.