Image: Agricultural Research Council
Science council vows to evict illegal occupants who paid fraudsters for parcels of its land
The Agricultural Research Council in South Africa says it is “deeply concerned” about illegal occupation on land that it owns.
“Dishonest and corrupt persons” are selling off stands of the ARC’s land to members of the public, the council said on 24 June.
The ARC’s research farms house experiments on crops, livestock, agro-processing and other agricultural activities. The land invasions disrupt research, and jeopardise the safety of staff and equipment, the council said.
People are also illegally cutting down trees in protected forested areas on ARC land, threatening the forests as well as the research they support, it added.
“These unlawful acts delay much-needed research and development that ensures support to the agricultural sector and food security in South Africa,” the council said.
Public warning
The illegal activities have occurred on the ARC’s Umtiza Research Farm in East London and on its research land in Irene, Pretoria.
In Irene, the property being invaded is part of the council’s Animal Production Campus, which focuses on animal breeding, rangelands and nutrition research, and food science.
Here, the invasions have targeted land currently used as a residential property for ARC employees, and part of which is also leased out by the council to generate revenue to supplement its government grant.
The Umtiza farm forms part of the ARC’s research on citrus and other subtropical crops, including pineapple. Research activities at the farm had stopped, but the council says it is talking to partners to resuscitate its activities and to lease out some of the land for profit.
The ARC told Research Professional News that it has obtained interim court orders to interdict and restrain anyone from entering or occupying its properties with the intention to settle. It says it will work with the courts and law enforcement to evict illegal occupants.
It warns members of the public against engaging with fraudsters selling land, as illegally occupying or invading ARC land “will only result in them losing their hard-earned money and investment during evictions”.