MP Jabulani Mangena has led a campaign of harassment, vandalism and violence against Philip and Ellen Hapelt on their Grasslands farm, claiming he has an offer letter entitling him to the property. Late last year, the Hapelts were brutally beaten in an attack the family believes was meant to drive them from their farm. Over the past few months the situation has continued to worsen, with Mangenas hired men increasing their intimidatory tactics against the elderly couple.
The Hapelts many years ago voluntarily gave up the majority of their land for the sake of ‘reform’, under an agreement that would allow them to remain on their homestead with a small portion of farming land. They have two court orders that entitle them to live on the farm without fear of invasion or persecution, but they were forced to seek two successive evictions orders in an effort to get Mangenas men off their land. But Mangena has openly disregarded the rulings of the courts and has previously threatened the Hapelts with violence.
Local police meant to carry out the evictions, have previously refused to assist the Hapelts, expressing their own fears of Mangena. But to the familys amazement, the police and the Sheriff of the Court finally started eviction proceedings last Friday. According to the Hapelts daughter Lauren, Manegnas farm manager was frantically trying to get the eviction halted the entire time, and eventually warned that he would be back.
We are all a bit dumb struck that the eviction took place. We have been fighting so hard for this with so little progress. The fact that the High Court order has been enforced is something we hoped for but never dreamed would happen, Lauren told SW Radio Africa.
Lauren continued that they have no doubt that Mangena will be back, but she said the family is heartened that the police finally respected the rule of the law by upholding the court orders. She added that she hoped that this would be the case for other farmers facing a similar situation in Somabuhla.
There seems to be another push to completely remove the last vestige of commercial farmers. Rumors abound that a land audit is about to take place so there is a frantic scrabble for the last few commercial farms, before this takes place, She said.
Post published in: Politics