The family of an Alicedale farmer, who nearly spent the festive season without a home due to a court application by the manager of Rippons Safari Lodge to have them evicted, breathed a sigh of relief when the matter was removed from the court roll last Tuesday.
The family of an Alicedale farmer, who nearly spent the festive season without a home due to a court application by the manager of Rippons Safari Lodge to have them evicted, breathed a sigh of relief when the matter was removed from the court roll last Tuesday.
Both the lawyer representing the family and Louis Schoeman of Boqwana Loon & Connellan Attorneys, who filed the application on behalf of the lodge management confirmed that they removed the matter from the court roll but did not say why.
Ward 3 councillor Zamuxolo Peter said he was very happy with the latest move by the lodge’s management. “I’m sure they realised that they have a positive role to play in building South Africa,” he said.
He added that the move brought some relief to the family so that they can plan their future around a secure place to say. “I’m hoping to work with the management to do things differently, because the government is looking forward to form partnerships with the private sector,” he added.
A notice of motion was filed in the Grahamstown Magistrate’s Court in December in which the lodge management wanted Daniel Koert and his family to be evicted from Proctorsfontein Farm with immediate effect. This prompted the Land Affairs department to hire a lawyer to oppose the application.
The lawyer, who does not want to be named, confirmed this week that the case was struck of the court roll but said she does not know what caused the sudden change of heart.
Koert was not available for comment. He used to do general work on the farm until the new management retrenched him in 2008.
In a sworn affidavit the lodge’s manager Brian Mullins requested that the court be brought to order and authorised the sheriff to evict Koert’s family and all their possessions from the farm should they fail to vacate the farm within three days of receiving the court application. A copy of the notice was also sent to the Department of Land Affairs.
According to court documents, the lodge’s management accused Koert of behaving in a disorderly manner while drunk and that Koert’s daughter stole money from the lodge for which she was dismissed.
