Landmark ruling for white farmers

[daveza]

http://www.news24.com/Content/Afric...-2010-04-18/Landmark_ruling_for_white_farmers

Pretoria - White farmers whose land was seized in Zimbabwe can be compensated with Zimbabwean assets in South Africa, the North Gauteng High Court ruled on Thursday.

The court also ruled that SADC tribunal rulings against the land grabs in Zimbabwe should be registered, recognised and enforceable by the South African government.

Judge Garth Rabie ruled in favour of white farmers - represented by AfriForum - who have argued that the seizure of their land without compensation was a human rights abuse.

Speaking outside the court, AfriForum's legal representative Willie Spies said the ruling was a "huge" coup for the farmers.

"It is a moral victory. The court ruled that Zimbabwe should honour this ruling. They, the farmers, are desperate."

Spies told News24 that Afriforum had already identified a number of houses that would cover the compensation costs of the farmers.

This is going to be fun to watch...

 

[Abe]

This is going to be fun to watch...

lol - sounds like it will be a treat.

 

[HavocXphere]

Weird ruling. Should probably read "Can be compensated with Zim state assets in SA"

 

[daveza]

http://www.ewn.co.za/articleprog.aspx?id=33576

Zim officials ignore SA court ruling on farms

Government officials in Zimbabwe said on Saturday they will take no notice of a South African court ruling this week, in favour of white farmers.

Judge Garth Rabbie’s ruling allows South African farmers who have been affected by Zimbabwe’s land reform programme to attach Zimbabwean property in South Africa, though the ruling may be appealed by the South African government.

A senior government official told the Herald newspaper on Saturday that Zimbabwe will not be influenced by Thursday’s ruling, in the North Gauteng High Court.

In theory, dispossessed white farmers could try to have Air Zimbabwe planes or other state property attached in South Africa but the official, who did not give his name, said Zimbabwe and South Africa have signed bilateral agreements.

The official was quoted as saying: “We are not even worried because it is South Africa’s duty as it is ours to protect each other’s properties,” but some of the seized farms were also protected by bilateral agreements.

So what now - our courts have given legality to attaching Zim owned property so I don't see how Bob can do anything to stop it happening.

As I see it any bilateral agreements are null and void as SA owned farms were seized in contravention of this agreement.

Going to wait and see if out government bows to the law or bends to the fruitcake.

 

[Albereth]

That official ought to be worried - the courts have stated that the government has no protection against assets being attached for non payment of dues.