Gran (89) fights to erect gravestones
‘Farmer not helpful as he fears land claim’
A North West granny is furious at a farm owner for denying her access to the gravesite where her parents, child and sibling were buried.
Mapalo Alinah Morake, 89, of Tsetse village outside Mahikeng, said the owner of Vetpan farm in Ventersdorp instead wants her to exhume and take away the remains of her family members buried there.
She said the farmer feared the family could lodge a land claim and use the gravesite as evidence of their right to the land.
Morake has made trips to the farm, to negotiate with the owner Christian Brytenbach to allow her to erect tombstones on her family graves.
The graves are situated on the farm where Morake and her parents lived for almost two decades. Her father Jim Rapakeng, mother Eliza, her son Daniel, her sister Annah and Annah’s two sons Rakomane and Eliot and grandchild Johannes were buried there.
She said she has already sold six cows and used that money to buy tombstones for her loved ones with the hope that she would be allowed to erect them at the farm.
She said Brytenbach told her that if he allowed her to erect tombstones, she might later claim the land and that the tombstones will be used as evidence that their family members were buried there.
Morake said years after her father died, they were forced to move out of the farm. They settled in Tsetse village.
In 1989 she wanted to erect tombstones for her loved ones, but was given permission to only clean the gravesite. She said as years went by, they were denied access to the farm, with the farm owner insisting there were no graves there.
After her failed visit to the grave site last week, Morake, who struggles to walk, visited the provincial offices of the department of rural development and land reform to seek intervention.
“I need to do this before I die, I am so sickly and want to honour their wish before I die,” she said.
She was told to go to the police station and make an affidavit, confirming that there were graves on the farm.
“I gave birth to all my eight children there, it’s just that I am weak.
“I have already bought a tombstone... now I have to pay for its storage at the shop,” she said.
Brytenbach dropped the call when asked for comment yesterday.
A woman who identified herself as his wife, Esther said they would not give a comment.
“We have no comment at the moment, we will keep your number and call you when we are ready to comment,” she said.
North West rural development and land reform chief director Richard Keothaile said they would notify the family about the proceedings before the end of the week.
I have bought a tombstone... now I pay for its storage Mapalo Alinah Morake PENSIONER