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Chief Khoisan SA was symbolically elected as the nation’s leader on Wednesday.
PHOTO: Alex Mitchley, News24
- Public Works has gone to court seeking an order to evict Khoisan’s group, which has been protesting in front of Union Buildings.
- The group has been protesting outside the official headquarters of the South African government for almost two years.
- Protesting to be recognized as the first indigenous nation in South Africa, the group said they would not leave even if an eviction order was granted.
The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has gone to court to obtain an eviction order to expel the group of Khoisan, who have been protesting outside Union buildings for almost two years.
The date, November 30, will mark two years since the small group of protesters arrived at the official headquarters of the South African government after making the arduous 1,200 km journey from the Eastern Cape on foot.
The group, led by King Khoisan SA came up with four demands, namely:
- The Khoisan people must be recognized as the first indigenous nation of South Africa;
- The “colored” tag should be removed from all official documents as a reference for people of mixed color and replaced with “Khoisan”;
- Kwadi – Khoe must be listed as an official language in South Africa; Y
- The Khoisan must be given land and resources to continue their culture and traditions.
Almost two years later, and the Khoisan in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s stoep have never faced the threat of a court order, but were made aware from the start that they were not welcome.
Khoisan SA said the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure had previously tried to have the lights go out in the area and allegedly threatened to open a case of vandalism after stones were taken from a wall and placed to anchor the tents of the Khoisan.
The Khoisan kraal at Union Buildings in Pretoria with Chief Khoisan SA in the background.
The camp set up by the Khoisan who have been in Union Buildings since November 2018, demanding that they be recognized as the first nation of South Africa.
Khoisan SA also believed that the removal of its dagga plants, “for medicinal purposes”, was also part of the action to render the Union Buildings inhospitable.
There have also been requests for the Khoisan to move, and most recently they were asked to go to a homeless shelter just before the hard blockade went into effect in March.
On Friday, the department confirmed to News24 that they had “gone to court to request an order to evict the people who were illegally occupying the Union Building grounds.”
SEE | If coronavirus doesn’t kill us, hunger will: Khoisan protests in front of Union Buildings
The order had not yet been granted.
Khoisan SA said they were informed that an eviction order was being requested, but that they were determined in their protest and would have to be forcibly removed.
“If we are given an eviction warrant, we will not accept the eviction notice, we will not sign the eviction notice, and we will tell officials that we need the president to contact us regarding the issues that have been raised.” Khoisan SA said.
Khoisan Chief SA was inaugurated at Union Buildings on Wednesday.
Chief Khoisan SA was symbolically elected as the nation’s leader on Wednesday.
News24 sent questions to the Presidency about the protesting group’s demands and progress in meeting these demands or seeking a friendly solution. These responses will be added once received.
In 2017, Khoisan SA and three other people took a similar trip to Union Buildings in an attempt to be recognized.
Things took a dangerous turn when the four of them embarked on a hunger strike that lasted for about a month.
READ | Khoisan will continue to camp outside Union Buildings until their demands are met.
News24 reported that Khoisan SA was suffering from extreme fatigue, malaise, and had lost 34 kg. Christian Martin, 37, who joined the Union Buildings hunger strike, lost 26 kilos and suffered from hypoglycemia as a result of malnutrition.
The group left after Ramaphosa, then vice president, received a memorandum of demands, but returned months later due to an alleged lack of progress in complying with the demands.
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