South Africa to expropriate first farm

0 Comments | AFP, March, 2007

KIMBERLEY, South Africa (AFP) — The South African government is taking possession of the first farm to be expropriated on Saturday, in a move designed to silence criticism it is dragging its feet over land reform.

Land Commission agents have descended on Pniel Farm near the diamond mining town of Kimberley to meet with the outgoing owners from the Lutheran Church as well as briefing the dozens of tenants who will stay put on the 25,000 hectare property.

The expropriation is the first step in a process which should end up with ownership of the land passing back into the hands of locals who were forced off their properties during the apartheid era and forced into shantytowns or else remained as farm workers.

The farm was to have changed hands on March 15...