Media Statement: Dysselsdorp property land-claims by Gona-Hesse! Khwe
Media Statement: Dysselsdorp property land-claims by Gona-Hesse! Khwe
28 February 2024
Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) is aware of the land-claims of two of its properties in Dysselsdorp (Erf 2 and 975) and remains committed to a fair and humane process to be followed going forward. The GRDM will engage several stakeholders to find a fair resolution for the situation.
Background
In 2021, the Gona-Hesse! Khwe Royal Kingdom, a non-profit entity, approached the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) with a proposal to lease land within the district’s jurisdiction. Their initial interest was in Kleinkrantz, a small community situated between Wilderness and Sedgefield. However, they were informed that Kleinkrantz was unavailable, but alternative land within the municipality’s area of jurisdiction could be leased, in particular erf 2 in Dysselsdorp.
Subsequently, the Gona-Hesse! Khwe decided to pursue a lease for erf 2 near Dysselsdorp, specifically the area known locally as ‘Bloupunt’. Initially, they made a deposit, but failed to fulfill their monthly rental obligations as per the lease agreement. By September 30, 2022, they had accrued rental arrears amounting to nearly R60 000,00. Despite repeated requests for payment, the Gona-Hesse! Khwe did not settle their debt, prompting the GRDM to implement measures in accordance with its Credit Control Policy to recover the owed amounts.
On February 2, 2024, the GRDM filed a notice of application pursuant to section 4(2) of the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act, No 19 of 1998 (the PIE Act), against the Gona-Hesse! Khwe. The group, despite neglecting their lease obligations, controversially issued illegal title deeds, falsely asserting ownership over the land based on their claimed royal status. This action was contrary to official deeds records. Consequently, the GRDM had no option but to take legal action to protect its property rights.
The one eviction notice pertains to erf 2. The other eviction is of the illegal occupation of erf 975, but the GRDM Council has decided to withdraw this eviction notice. The contractual violation specifically involves erf 2 and is associated with the Gona-Hesse! Khwe group. The individuals protesting are residents of erf 975 and have been misled by the Gona-Hesse! Khwe, who have failed to honour their contractual obligations regarding erf 2.
The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Council is set to deliberate on the situation concerning erf 975 with the Oudtshoorn Municipality, aiming for a harmonious resolution.
For more information, please contact the GRDM Communication Manager, Herman Pieters at 044 803 1419 or at herman@gardenroute.gov.za.
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Mediaverklaring: Dysselsdorp grondeise deur Gona-Hesse! Khwe
28 Februarie 2024
Die Tuinroete Distriksmunisipaliteit (TDM) is bewus van die grondeise van twee van sy eiendomme in Dysselsdorp (Erf 2 en 975) en bly toegewyd om ‘n regverdige en menslike proses te volg om die situasie te beredder. Die TDM onderneem om verskeie belanghebbendes te betrek, om sodoende ‘n regverdige oplossing vir die situasie te vind.
Agtergrond
In 2021 het die Gona-Hesse! Khwe Koninklike Koninkryk, ‘n nie-winsgewende entiteit, die Tuinroete Distriksmunisipaliteit (TDM) genader met ‘n voorstel om grond binne die distrik se jurisdiksie te huur. Hulle aanvanklike belangstelling was in Kleinkrantz, ‘n klein gemeenskap tussen Wildernis en Sedgefield, maar was egter ingelig dat Kleinkrantz nie beskikbaar is nie. Alternatiewe grond binne die munisipaliteit se jurisdiksie wat wel beskikbaar was vir huur, Erf 2 in Dysselsdorp was aanbeveel. Erf 2 is ongeveer 100 km in afstand vanaf Kleinkrantz, waar die Gona-Hesse! Khwe Koninklike Koninkryk aanvanklik ‘n eiendom wou huur.
Later het die Gona-Hesse! Khwe besluit om ‘n huurkontrak vir Erf 2, in Dysselsdorp na te streef, spesifiek die gebied wat plaaslik bekendstaan as ‘Bloupunt’. Hulle het aanvanklik ‘n deposito betaal, maar het versuim om hul maandelikse huurverpligtinge na te kom soos bepaal in die huurooreenkoms. Teen 30 September 2022 het hulle agterstallige huurgeld tot R60 000,00 opgeloop. Ten spyte van herhaalde versoeke om betaling, het die Gona-Hesse! Khwe versuim om hul skuld te vereffen, en wat daartoe genoop het dat die TDM maatreëls inplementeer in ooreenstemming met sy Kredietbeheerbeleid om sodoende die verskuldigde (uitstaande) bedrae terug te eis.
Op 2 Februarie 2024 het die TDM ‘n kennisgewing ingedien ingevolge artikel 4(2) van die Wet op die Voorkoming van Onwettige Uitsettings en Onwettige Besetting van Grond, No 19 van 1998 (die PIE Wet), teen die Gona-Hesse! Khwe. Die groep het, ten spyte van die nalating van hul huurverpligtinge, omstrede onwettige titelaktes uitgereik, waardeur hulle valse eienaarskap oor die grond beweer het, op grond van hul beweerde koninklike status. Hierdie optrede was teenstrydig met die amptelike aktes se rekords. Gevolglik het die TDM geen ander opsie gehad as om regstappe te neem om sodoende sy eiendomsregte te beskerm.
Die een uitsettingskennisgewing het betrekking op Erf 2. Die ander uitsetting is vir die onwettige besetting van Erf 975, maar die TDM Raad het intussen besluit om hierdie uitsettingskennisgewing terug te trek. Die kontraktuele oortreding het spesifiek betrekking op Erf 2 en word geassosieer met die Gona-Hesse! Khwe groep. Die individue wie protes aanteken, is inwoners van Erf 975 en word mislei deur die Gona-Hesse! Khwe, wat nie hul kontraktuele verpligtinge met betrekking tot Erf 2 nagekom het nie. ‘n Administratiewe en politieke delegasie is tans oppad na Oudtshoorn om met die gemeenskapsverteenwoordigers te praat.
Met die oog op die toekoms is die Tuinroete Distriksmunisipaliteit (TDM) Raad en die administrasie besig om te beraadslag oor die situasie met betrekking tot Erf 975 met die Oudtshoorn Munisipaliteit, met die doel om ‘n harmonieuse oplossing te bereik.
Vir meer inligting, kontak asseblief die TDM Kommunikasiebestuurder, Herman Pieters by 044 803 1419 of by herman@gardenroute.gov.za.
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