Doreen Mokgolo
In 2003, a group of pensioners in Kwa-Thema came together to form the Leratong Vegetable Garden Project aimed at empowering the community.
But all that’s left of the project are a few dead tree stumps and a few dead fruit trees.
In 2017 the pensioners were bullied and forced to abandon their small farms to make way for an informal park and car wash by a group of young people in the area.
Four years later, the only sign that the plot used to be a farm is the few dead peach trees and marks dividing the plots.
One of the elderly group leaders, Sophy Skhosana said one morning four years ago they went to the site and found a group of young people erecting a car wash.
“When we asked they promised not to not interfere with our project but months later they started moving more and more into our space,” she said.
“Members who were vocal and against the move were threatened with their lives and some of the members stopped farming.”
Skhosana said the project was meant to be a legacy of this community to ensure that no household in this area goes to bed on an empty stomach and creates employment.
Each of the 24 members from Kwa-Thema, Ekhurhuleni was given a small portion of the land to plant different fruits and vegetables that would be sold or donated to poor households in the area.
“Today we have nothing to show for it but the dead trees and car wash that is falling apart,” she said.
Councillor Wilson Busakwe from Ward 80 said he has referred the group to the relevant department to help them build a security fence to protect the site.
“We are hoping this will allow the elders to revive the farms and will provide necessary support to the project,” he said.
The car wash and park are now abandoned with no sign of anyone operating it.
