Limpopo farmer’s house burnt to the ground in a Land dispute

A house belonging to a farmer, Karel Potgieter, was torched and burnt down by an unknown group of people in Ga-Sekgopo, Limpopo.

It is said Potgieter returned from the shops to find his farmhouse engulfed in flames last Wednesday. The farmer found that the house had been burned to the ground at Ga-Sekgopo.

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For years, Potgieter and his neighbours have been embroiled in a dispute with the local community, which successfully lodged a land claim on three neighbouring farms.

The Ga-Sekgopo community met with the remaining farm owners as recently as three weeks ago, where they also demanded their land.

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According to the Freedom Front Plus [VF Plus] in Limpopo, farm owners were threatened that they would be removed from the land by force in the past.

The police have opened a case of arson. No suspects have been arrested yet. The farm is located in Munnik, about 50km outside Polokwane.

“This incident is an indication that the ground issue and the statements of certain political parties in this regard can be the spark that sets fire barrels,” said VF Plus.