In late 2011 the owners of
Nooidgedacht farm, outside of Stellenbosch went around to the homes of the farm
workers on their farm to gather personal information and to establish how many
people live in each household. Families were under the impression that the
owners were trying to find out what maintenance needed to be done on their farm
homes. Later that year farm workers were
informed that they would have to move as new accommodation would be built in
Klapmuts (outside of Stellenbosch) for them.
No interim meetings were called by the farm owners to inform them of their decision to move the families off the farm and to hear how families felt about the move. However a couple of months later the families were informed that the homes they will be receiving will be of a similar quality and size to the homes they were occupying – in addition, a small bungalow would be on their property. For some families, their son or daughter had to sign the ownership/legal papers for the new Klapmuts homes and not their parents who had worked and retired on the Nooitgedacht farm. This was a concern for some families as they anticipated potential siblings strive and inheritance problems, should their parents pass away.
They were also promised free electricity and no rates bill for the first 6 months. Homes would also be painted. One family was promised an additional bedroom for their eldest daughter. In early December 2012 the families were taken to Klapmuts by the farm owner to show them what the new homes looked like. The homes have 2 small bedrooms, a lounge, kitchen and toilet. Between December 2012 and March 2013 the families were moved to their new homes and into an array of problems. The locals living in Klapmuts at the time were not happy that outsiders were moving into their area, as they were struggling to get government homes.
The homes built for the Nooidgedacht 14 is of a very poor quality. In December the roofs of 3 homes blew off. There are no gutters, so rain water penetrates the poorly built walls which now show big cracks and water pools outside the homes, as there is no proper drainage to carry the water away. No outside taps were fitted for families to do their washing. On average 6 family members live in a house. In 1 or 2 households some family members are behaving as if the homes belong to them. Underlying tension between the different families are also visible as some family members still work on the farm and they now have to travel by train to Stellenbosch and do not want to jeopardize their employment by getting involved in a confrontation with Nooidgedacht . The family who was promised an additional room for their adult daughter is still waiting for the room to be built; she now shares a room with her elderly mom. Families are still living out of their suitcases as there is inadequate space in the houses to store their possessions.
One family who moved in March found their house unpainted - thanks to the intervention of a lawyer they managed to have the inside of the house and kitchen floor painted. They can’t park their small car (Ford Escort) on their piece of land; the car is half on the property and half in the street. Complaints to the municipality about the conditions of the homes have fallen on deaf ears as the homes are on privately owned land. Municipal service delivery is also not taking place on a regular basis. Families have tried to get their story heard through the newspapers, tv stations and legal resource centers - all have been unable or unwilling to assist the families.
Since the families have moved to Klapmuts the owner of Nooidgedacht farm has been to visit one lady, who was involved with the organizing of the move. No contact has been made with any other family and these families are finding it difficult to get in touch with him. All that the Koelenhof 14 wants is for the owner of Nooidgedacht farm to keep his promises to them.
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