About 200 mostly elderly Mpumalanga land claimants who forcefully occupied state-owned Komatiland farms spent a night at the facility.
The Mgadzeni land claimants led by the EFF invaded the state's Bergvliet plantation run by the government's forestry company Safcol on Monday afternoon and slept in the farm's offices.
"We're here to stay, our fathers have been buried here and now we are back. Because they don't want to organise food and housing for us we are going to sleep in the offices," the claimants said.
Also read: EFF hostel dwellers attacked - heavily armed group injures 32
Norah Mashego said: "We're not leaving; we want to die here if that is the case. It's ours and it was forcefully taken and our rivers of patience have dried up."
She said they were going to sleep at the farm again last night until the land is officially given to them.
Lomini Nyathikazi said she was born on the farm. "When I see this place, all the time I cry. I remember being kicked out of the farm and our livestock being forcefully taken.
"I'm back now and I want this land of ours. My father died poor after we were evicted and my brothers and sister are all dead. I'm on my own now. Taking this land back will [give me peace]," she said.
The land claimed by the community is estimated to be 4621 hectares and the Bergvliet plantation is 56% of the claim.
EFF provincial chairman Collen Sedibe said the claim was finalised in 2002. "As the EFF we're leading people to their land. The land claims commission [LCC] is dragging its feet because Safcol is a government entity. So it's safe to say government is delaying these people, some of them have even died."
Farm manager Hendry Seteria said they had always supported the claimants but their claim was not done yet. "We were supposed to have a meeting with the land claims commission last week so we are still waiting," said Seteria.
Safcol spokesman Khaya Buthelezi said they were trying to engage the LCC to verify the claim and ensure a speedy settlement of claims on Safcol-operated land.
"According to our records, this claim is currently being researched to ascertain its veracity," he said.
Safcol employs about 40 locals as contractors while bursaries and skills training opportunities have also been afforded to residents.
EFF leads people to 'their land'
About 200 mostly elderly Mpumalanga land claimants who forcefully occupied state-owned Komatiland farms spent a night at the facility.
The Mgadzeni land claimants led by the EFF invaded the state's Bergvliet plantation run by the government's forestry company Safcol on Monday afternoon and slept in the farm's offices.
"We're here to stay, our fathers have been buried here and now we are back. Because they don't want to organise food and housing for us we are going to sleep in the offices," the claimants said.
Also read: EFF hostel dwellers attacked - heavily armed group injures 32
Norah Mashego said: "We're not leaving; we want to die here if that is the case. It's ours and it was forcefully taken and our rivers of patience have dried up."
She said they were going to sleep at the farm again last night until the land is officially given to them.
Lomini Nyathikazi said she was born on the farm. "When I see this place, all the time I cry. I remember being kicked out of the farm and our livestock being forcefully taken.
"I'm back now and I want this land of ours. My father died poor after we were evicted and my brothers and sister are all dead. I'm on my own now. Taking this land back will [give me peace]," she said.
The land claimed by the community is estimated to be 4621 hectares and the Bergvliet plantation is 56% of the claim.
EFF provincial chairman Collen Sedibe said the claim was finalised in 2002. "As the EFF we're leading people to their land. The land claims commission [LCC] is dragging its feet because Safcol is a government entity. So it's safe to say government is delaying these people, some of them have even died."
Farm manager Hendry Seteria said they had always supported the claimants but their claim was not done yet. "We were supposed to have a meeting with the land claims commission last week so we are still waiting," said Seteria.
Safcol spokesman Khaya Buthelezi said they were trying to engage the LCC to verify the claim and ensure a speedy settlement of claims on Safcol-operated land.
"According to our records, this claim is currently being researched to ascertain its veracity," he said.
Safcol employs about 40 locals as contractors while bursaries and skills training opportunities have also been afforded to residents.
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