Melkkraal Farmers Accuse Land Reform Officials Of Corruption

Five emerging farmers in Odendaalsrus have accused land reform and rural development officials in the Free State of corruption. They claim they have been living under the constant threat of eviction from the Melkkraal farm since 2019. The farmers allege that officials have already granted a larger portion of the farm to another party, despite them still holding a lease agreement. They feel abandoned by those who should be protecting them on the 1,863-hectare farm. Marry Lebeko Jabane, the daughter of the cooperative's main member, shared that she left her job after her father's passing because she had been registered by him to take over the farm. Theres a lot of corruption in this government thing. The land reform officials are corrupt and heartless. It seems as if they grew up wealthy, never experiencing poverty. They dont seem to understand our struggles, as they only think of themselves. They want to fill their pockets without considering our emotions or how this is hurting us. I am not okay at all, she said. The emerging farmers have expressed fear about their future, unsure of what will happen next. The 1,863-hectare farm, which was allocated to the five cooperative members in 2011, has now been divided. The farmers have lost 1,200 hectares to a new owner, leaving them with just 600 hectares, which is insufficient for their livestock to graze.