The minerals and energy department and Cosatu will on Monday visit workers evicted from the Spruitfontein farm near Rustenburg in the North West.

Farmer Eddie Engelbrecht evicted the group of about 20 late on Thursday last week after obtaining a court order.

Engelbrecht was preparing the property for mining, the department said in a statement on Monday.

"The department felt that the rights of this community had been violated as they were not offered alternative accommodation."

They had been temporarily accommodated in the Marikana community hall.

Those evicted said on Sunday that setting up home outside the farm would alienate them from their ancestors.

Phil Molelekeng (46), whose parents were buried on the farm, said: "If I relocate, I will not be able to visit the graves as per our custom."

Women and children were put up with friends and relatives at other farms on Thursday night. The men were left by the side of the road until the Rustenburg municipality took them to the Marikana hall.

The department and Congress of SA Trade Unions also planned to meet with Engelbrecht.

Sapa

RSS
Digg
de.li.cious
facebook