Racial tensions are simmering between black worshippers and the Afrikaner communities of Kenmare and Silverfields in Krugersdorp, Gauteng, over the latter’s usage of a small hill in the area as their own Mount Olive.
The Afrikaners are chasing away and preventing the worshippers who gather there to pray, perform their religious rituals and even use the “ sacred place” as their sanctuary.
The tension degenerated into an ugly affair last week when a group of Afrikaners, armed to the teeth, climbed the hill, famously known as Kenmare Kloof, and ordered the worshippers to leave because the place has been exclusively reserved for their hiking hobby.
The Kenmare Kloof is defined by the beauty of a peacefully flowing river, beautiful rocky hills and a breath-taking waterfall.
It is also considered a “sacred place” by many Africans from across the province, including sangomas, who frequent it to pray and worship as well as find their spiritual strength.
But for the local Afrikaners, it is a natural wonder that should be exploited for hiking and mountain biking without all the noise and ruckus of “those church people”. The communities, led by Hanno Moller recently terrorised and chased away the worshippers from the hill even though it belongs to the Mogale City Municipality.
The communities bought a fence and closed access to the area.
Speaking to Sunday World, Moller confirmed they had erected the fence to prevent worshippers from accessing the hill.
“The fence we installed was purchased by the communities to replace the municipal fence that was broken down without the consent of the municipality,” said Moller. “We notified the municipality of our intention, and it gave us a letter of permission,” he added.
However, he could not produce a copy of the municipality’s approval.
Desmond Makhomisane, an activist who resides in Kenmare and sides with worshippers, said they would take the fight to these “racists”, who are preventing them from accessing the hill. He said Moller and his supporters were determined to drive black people away from the kloof and then turn it into a hiking and mountain biking spot for their exclusive use.
He said after they erected the fence, the Afrikaner communities added him to “Afrikaner-only” WhatsApp groups, showered him with threats and insults, and then removed him.
“As the leader of all the kloof groups, we want to charge you for the damage done to the fence and the repair costs,” reads one of the threatening messages.
Makhomisane, who himself uses the place for spiritual purposes, said he would fight to the bitter end. He said he has a solid support structure from all religious groups that use the kloof to connect to the higher being.
“People will not be stopped by people arrogating to themselves powers they do not have. Our people will continue to worship here in peace because they are committing no crime, but we will not be bullied,” he said.
“Just imagine these people claim this place belongs to them. They are so arrogant they do not even want to negotiate, but we do not care about that. This is our place too, and no one will stop us.”
DA ward councillor Jaco Holtzhausen, who has been accused of siding with the Afrikaner communities, said he would close the kloof. According to him, in terms of the by-laws, people are not allowed to roam around in the kloof.
“It has got nothing to do with race, although it seems some church people are attempting to do so. This is a biodiversity-sensitive area. According to the by-laws, we cannot enter the kloof for any reason whatsoever. The law is being broken,” said Holtzhausen. “My attempt is to close the area off with controlled entry. I am just following the law.”
He said it was false that white people wanted to have the place as their own little enclave.
This newspaper has seen dozens of letters sent to the municipality by the worshippers asking for intervention, but all were ignored.
The Mogale City municipality said: “We will investigate these allegations, stem tensions and ensure that the harmony that has been enjoyed by residents of this city is sustained.”
Follow @SundayWorldZA on Twitter and @sundayworldza on Instagram, or like our Facebook Page, Sunday World, by clicking here for the latest breaking news in South Africa.
