The chairperson of the Tshifhefhe Communal Property Association (CPA), which has recently acquired the Welgevonden 4LT (Portion 27) farm, denies that they are selling stands to thousands of hopefuls who want to own property at the new township.

The farm, which used to be known as Baron´s Chicken Farm, is situated about 15 kilometres from Louis Trichardt on the road to Levubu. It was handed back to the Netshifhefhe community earlier this year after a successful land claim by the Mahoba clan. Rumours started circulating a few weeks ago of the proposed development and an "open day" was held last Tuesday (August 2) during which prospective home owners could come and stake their claim on a stand. A large number of people arrived at the farm to pay their R120 deposit.

When Mirror visited the farm on Saturday, the chairperson of the Tshifhefhe Communal Property Association, Mr Tshikamulilo Nengovhela, was adamant that they were not selling stands. "These are just lies; we never said that we are selling the stands. All the people who have paid the money are beneficiaries. It is only (for) those who used to reside at the farm and their relatives," said Nengovhela.

He added that there was no way that they could erect stands on the farm. Nengovhela showed Mirror some of the business plans, which include a crop-production project, a pig-breeding project and a poultry-farming project. He said that they only planned on building an agri-village, which will comprise six houses.

"We never told anyone that we are selling stands. The R120 we received from the beneficiaries are going to be used for transport and food. (It will be used) for the people who are going to clear the bushes on the farm before we start farming," added Nengovhela. When a Mirror reporter visited the farm, there were 19 people who were clearing the bushes.

It is alleged that more than 3 000 people from around Louis Trichardt and Thohoyandou had already paid money, thinking that they would get stands at this new development. When asked about the money that had already been paid by people who wanted stands, Nengovhela said that there wouldn´t be any refunds. He said the money was meant for transport and food for the people who cleared the bushes.

"Our title deed on the farm clearly indicates that we have to engage in farming and not to start a residential area. People must be careful of what they say. We are not selling the stands," Nengovhela said.

One of the people who paid the money, thinking that he was going to receive a stand on this particular farm, insisted on a refund. "When I paid the money, I was told that I would be given a stand. Now these people are saying that there won´t be any stands that will be erected on the farm. They must give the money back that I had paid," he said.

However, Nengovhela does not seem keen on any refunds. He also claims that only 200 people paid the R120. "We have to build an agri-village (comprising) of 6-room units only, so that farm workers can reside on the farm while working here. This is what we had said as the CPA," he added.

According to Nengovhela, the CPA has also filed claims for the nearby Nooitgedacht and Palmietfontein farms. "We are waiting for the government to buy the farms and hand them back to us. This is the land of our forefathers and we want it back," said Nengovhela.