OUTJO – Outjo residents in the Kunene region on Wednesday expressed anger with a High Court judgement that was passed in March this year to legally evict a 63-year-old woman from a private-owned farm where she was born and bred, and where her relatives are buried.

The ruling was passed on 25 March 2020 to evict and auction livestock of Irmgard Hoeses if she fails to remove her property after 30 days from the judgement date. 

Hoeses, in an interview with Nampa on Wednesday, said she was officially evicted from the farm on Tuesday and auctioning of her livestock is expected before 7 August 2020 at the Outjo Agra Auctioneer pens.

She said this is a result of her failing to remove her livestock and vacate the portion of Farm Aimab No. 124, situated 30km west of Outjo.

Hoeses claims her grandparents are buried on this farm, as well as her three nephews, whom she grew up with on the farm where their parents had worked.

“Now I have to lose 34 goats, 27 sheep and four cattle at an auction. I really need help to have my livestock back,” she said.

Outjo resident Margaret Pieters labelled the court ruling as unfair justice, saying Hoeses has nowhere to go since the only place she knows is that farm where she was born and raised even before independence.

She said the farm was purchased in September 2018 by Peya Hitula and his wife Hilia Hitula, who are now the new owners.

“Since then, eviction threats also started. This is a shame to the political leadership turning a blind eye on a sad story like this,” Pieters said.

David Hawiseb (52), also a resident of Outjo, said it pains him and a lot of people “to see a defenceless woman being evicted in such a cruel manner”, and her livestock being sold at an auction because she has no place to go.

“Cases like this need government intervention because this woman really needs help,” he said.

Farm owner Peya Hitula on Tuesday already told this news agency in a telephone interview that Hoeses should concede and leave his property alone.

“I have been asking her to remove the livestock she accumulated while working on the farm, but she did not do so. It is not a resettlement farm but my private property,” he said.

Outjo Constituency Councillor Johannes Antsino on Wednesday said he is aware of the case.

– Nampa