More than 100 desperate Bhongweni families illegally occupying portion 11 of farm 925 have submitted a petition to the Buffalo City Metro to stop their pending eviction on Monday.
They argue that they have built their homes and livelihoods on the farm, which is owned by former SAA director Yakhe Kwinana.
Kwinana told the Dispatch she had realised in 2017 that people had built themselves homes on her property.
She said she applied to the East London high court for their eviction the same year, and the application had been granted in November 2020.
But due to strict Covid-19 regulations, the evictions could not be carried out.
Kwinana said she had plans to develop the land after the occupants had left.
Residents asked the municipality to intervene as they had nowhere to go.
Anelisa Makawula, 35, has been living in a one-bedroom shack in the area since July 2020 with her partner and three children, two of whom have special needs.
“We want the government to intervene in the matter,” she said.
“If we get evicted, we do not know where to turn.
“We cannot afford a lawyer to appeal against the court order.”
Makawula said she had learnt only two weeks ago that they were being evicted.
“We want the municipality to provide the means to buy us the land.
“Some people have been living there longer and have built their lives there.”
Amanda Mbeki, 37, said she too did not know where she would go if she was evicted.
Her children attended a nearby school and had scholar transport.
“We cannot just leave because how will this affect our children?”
Lindiwe Salmani, 47, said it was sad and difficult to think they would be evicted.
“When I first came here, I was with my husband and my three children.
“Family conflict made us leave our previous home — we had no choice.”
Her husband died in 2020 and is buried on the farm, and she now lives there with her three children.
“I am not working and live off their social grant which clothes and feeds us.
“I am unemployed and I do not know what will happen.”
Salmani said they had heard Kwinana was demanding the farm back.
“She has seen how we live and the conditions of our homes, but we ask her to say where we can go if she evicts us.”
Kwinana said the farm had been purchased in 2005.
Since 2017, she had made various attempts to get government officials to assist her.
“We applied for rezoning to BCMM and the application was not approved on the basis that bulk municipal services were not yet commissioned.”
She said at this point eviction seemed to be the only solution.
“We offered the land to the metro to buy, but there is no appetite,” Kwinana said.
Councillor Bonisile Bangani said the matter had been referred to the metro’s legal department.
“On Monday, we had a meeting and there are no outcomes yet.
“I am expecting to receive communication from the legal team on Wednesday regarding the outcome, as they are engaging with Kwinana.”
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