Renishaw Farm families fear losing ancestral homes amid relocation plans

FOR OVER 30 families of indentured descent living on Renishaw Farm - also known as “Chinatown” - along KwaZulu-Natal’s South Coast, the promise of lifelong housing is being threatened by relocation plans.

- NADIA KHAN

Despite a deed of donation signed in 2019, residents now face potential displacement from homes their families have occupied for generations while working for Crookes Brothers Limited.

The families claimed they were misled about having their homes until their death.

They said many of their forefathers, who were indentured descendants, and themselves worked in various positions for Crookes Brothers Limited, which had a sugar cane plantation and mill on the farm, and had provided them with the homes where they lived with their families.

However, they were recently informed that there were plans for them to be moved to an area on the outskirts of Umzinto. The residents claimed there had been no consultation with the community.

Numerous threats

Selvan Chetty, a human rights activist, said for more than two decades, he had been fighting for the community.

“The people of ‘Chinatown’ have faced numerous threats over the past two decades to disrupt their quiet, simple way of life. In 2005 I received information about the residents being forced to vacate the homes they had occupied for generations. I saw several homes which were once occupied by the residents, demolished. They were forced to leave.

“After speaking to the residents I also learnt that the company had been gradually restricting their freedom and rights on the farm. Previously, each household used to be given coal and fuel for cooking. This stopped, and they were told to stop planting subsistence crops. I was also informed that the company also started to charge rent. They also had to get prepaid electricity and water,” he said.

Chetty, who is also the former chief whip of the Ray Nkonyeni Municipality, said he formed and led a committee with residents, and sought legal and political support to challenge the evictions.