THE old man keeps beaming. In fact, David Rakgase can’t remember the last time he was this happy. A huge burden has been lifted from the farmer’s broad shoulders, and for him and his family Christmas has come early with news that they’ll finally own the farm they’ve toiled on for 28 years.
The widower and his children have been working the 3 079-hectare Nooitgedacht farm near Northam, Limpopo, since 1991. For nearly two decades they have been at loggerheads with the government, which has been dragging its feet in making good on its promise that the Rakgases would be allowed to buy their leased land.
The family is believed to be the first to take the provincial and national agriculture departments to court to force them to follow through on their commitment to sell land.
The family won their case in the high court in Pretoria in September, and the government was ordered to sell them the farm – but David’s heart sank when he was told the department would appeal the ruling.
They thought they’d have to endure at least another year of papers being filed and battles dragging on in court, so David was elated when the department decided to withdraw its appeal against the judgment.
“Really, Christmas has come early for me,” he says, smiling broadly. “I’m happy the government has realised its mistake and is willing to rectify it.”
The court found that the state had breached its constitutional duties in its handling of David’s offer to buy the farm under the Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development (LRAD) programme. The initiative, which was established to help black people acquire land for agricultural purposes, has since been discontinued.
Now David and his family also plan to claim R3 million from the government to cover the costs of their court battle, as well as for stock and machinery that was stolen when their land was invaded.
Denne historien er fra 7 November 2019-utgaven av YOU South Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra 7 November 2019-utgaven av YOU South Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
PUSHED TO THE LIMIT
The unusual relationship between an heiress and her husband has taken a sinister twist
HOW TO MAKE A SUPERBABY
Noor Siddiqui says her company can test embryos for hundreds of conditions from diabetes to Alzheimer's. Critics call it social engineering but she insists she's just giving prospective parents the means to avoid a lot of future heartache
THE GROWN-UP BRAIN
If you think your brain deteriorates as you age, think again!
THE eyes HAVE IT
They're the windows to our soul - and the first place to show the stresses of everyday life. Juliette Winter reveals expert tips to de-puff, brighten and smooth this delicate area
WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER
It hasn't been an easy road but now this bodybuilding couple are making waves in the industry
I CAN'T WAIT FOR SUMMER!
Annetjie's about to get effective treatment for the skin condition that has blighted her life and she's looking forward to hitting the shops and facing the world
'SHE NO THREAT TO ANYONE'
When SA boxer Chris van Heerden's Russian girlfriend went to visit her parents she was thrown in jail and accused of treasonnow he's in a fight to free her
SUNK IN 16 MINUTES!
A sun-drenched holiday turned into a living nightmare for those aboard this luxury vessel
READY TO SMILE AGAIN
A groundbreaking surgical procedure will restore this Limpopo teen's badly damaged jaw and teeth
HARRY AT A CROSSROADS
As the prince turns 40, royal experts paint a picture of a troubled soul- isolated, homesick and struggling to find a purpose in life