Blame game in farmer, community land row

Claimants of farmland outside Hartbeespoort Dam in North West are up in arms demanding that a farmer leave their land.

- Eric Mthobeli Naki

They also want Henning Pretorius, who previously owned the land, to pay monies allegedly due to his workers.

But the farmer has shifted the blame to the community.

Pretorius said the community failed to work the land and left him to do the farming and manage the property in the Madibeng municipal area, although the project was a joint venture.

He alleged that the community retrenched 400 farm workers from the project, known as Khutso Naketsi Agric, and failed to pay them severance packages.

The land, near Lakeland and Arrow Rest in Hartbeespoort, was bought by the government for R400 million, inclusive of all assets for redistribution in 2019.

In terms of the arrangement, the community owned 70% of the project while Pretorius owned 30% share.

Pretorius confirmed the arrangement.

Last week, the community gathered on the farm and demanded a meeting with Pretorius, whom they accused of refusing to allow them to participate in managing and working the farm, despite being shareholders.

According to Motape Motoke, who is mediating between the two sides, it was resolved that the farmer operate jointly with the community, who were also directors, but Pretorius refused.