They are currently still struggling to gain access to the property in order to remove their farm equipment, 15 tonnes of maize and other goods. The background to their case is that during mid August, a high ranking member of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) and a family member of a senior government official arrived on the farm and presented them with a set of papers claimed to be from the Ministry of Lands.
The papers stated that they had been allocated the farm jointly and that the van Rensburgs must be off the farm by November latest, despite no eviction order having been issued. Van Rensburgs lawyer took the matter to the High Court and a restraining order was granted on September 20. However, on October 12, a colonel from 3 Brigade Army Headquarters arrived on the farm and ordered van Rensburg to vacate the property within 72 hours or face eviction by the army.
After a further letter emphasizing the restraining order was issued by their lawyer, a group of eight thugs was sent to the farm around midnight to remove the owners. They beat up van Rensburgs guard and then, armed with his gun, gave the couple 10 minutes to vacate the property. The following week, when the van Ransburgs returned to remove their goods after protracted negotiations, they were warned against reporting the theft of household goods, cell phones and other items to the police.
Post published in: Politics