South Africa: Farmer Accused of Hijacking Tobacco Project

Source from:  The New Age (za) 07/11/2012

The Skuinsdrif development committee near Groot Marico in the province has blamed a white farmer in the area for allegedly hijacking the British American Tobacco SA (Batsa) project aimed to benefit emerging black farmers. The concerned residents claimed the farmer has turned the farm into his private property illegally when it is supposed to benefit the community.

Committee chairperson Ati Montshiwa and his deputy, Dan Rasikune, said the provincial government had bought two farms known as Open Area and Quite Living in 2004 from previous owners for the community in the area to develop themselves. The Open Area’s previous owner reportedly relocated to Botswana and former Quite Living’s owner allegedly died from suicide. Montshiwa and Rasikune said they attended a camp organised by the Greater Rustenburg Community Foundation (GRCF) in November last year at Skuinsdrif Primary School, where they were informed about the project. "We are aggrieved that the white farmer, Dannie van der Merwe, who is also a chairperson of the Boere Unie, has taken the project and turned it into his private property, yet we have told the foundation CEO, Christine Delport, that we have land but it needs an evaluation study so that the project can be taken there to develop emerging black farmers,"said Montshiwa and Rasikune. They blamed Delport from allegedly reneging on her promise to pay them for digging holes to plant tobacco trees at Quite Living farm. "Van der Merwe has taken over and is monitoring Quite Living farm for his own benefit while neglecting the black farmers. These people are saying nothing to him, although they see that he is imposing himself on their property," said Montshiwa. He said they were at loggerheads with the Boere Unie, which demanded an apology from them for informing The New Age about the death of a 16-year-old boy who died from electrical shock in the area early this year. "These whites also try to convince German student volunteers in our area not to associate with us, claiming we have HIV/Aids,”" he said. Delport said the GRCF was not running the project on behalf of Batsa but one of many partners with a mandate to ensure social economic development (SED) in a variety of ways from determining the needs of the broader community through a community asset mapping process, concluded last year. "Stop listening to these people (Monsthiwa and Rasikune)," said Van der Merwe. "I’m only a service provider, providing certain training for emerging farmers. "Speak to Christine Delport in writing – I want that as your affidavit so that I should take these people to court. "They are telling you blatant lies," he said, before hanging up the phone. Enditem