We also need development, just like everybody else
We also need development, just like everybody else
Previously, we were living under the oppression of the apartheid system from the white people and we had no land of our own and could not use our rights.
As time went on, we got our freedom in the democratic government, which lead to training and educating black communities about their rights by different organisations especially those dealing with farm dwellers.
These programmes have empowered us to lodge applications with the Department of Land Affairs to buy land for us. Even though the government has bought us this land, it is not enough and we don’t see how this land could be developed.
In our community, the level of education is very low and this has resulted in government representatives and employees doing as they please to this community. While we expect them to protect this community, they are the ones who exploit them.
Our elders were asked to sign land agreements they did not understand by DLA (Department of Land Affairs) which resulted in loss of land ownership and rights to live in this land as this department does not consult with the community regarding their plans to develop the land.
This has divided the community into two factions. One of these factions is working with government which raises the questions around government principles of Batho Pele (people first) working in this department. They have very good promises on paper,which are just empty and not implemented.We have waited enough!
As the farm dwellers, we would also like to benefit in the new South Africa, be developed and not simply hear about developments happening around our community in the media, while we are left out.
In our community, we still share water with livestock as the municipality truck comes one a month with water, or twice if we are lucky. We have also voted for this government and we deserve the same treatment as other citizens of this country.
Amandla!!
Evicted Tent Town Farm dwellers return to their land. Photo by Gcino Shabalala
