Criminal charges laid against Zebediela Citrus Estate looters

The DA in Limpopo on Tuesday laid criminal charges against those responsible for looting the Zebediela Citrus Estate. The party says they are in possession of video footage in which the looting of the once prosperous farm can clearly be seen.

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The estate is currently under voluntary liquidation. It is also illegal to remove any asset from the property by anyone, including CPA beneficiaries. The looting is allegedly done by members of the Bjatladi communal property association.
 
‘The DA will not stand idly by to see the citrus estate looted and the farm workers left without jobs,” said the DA in a statement.

DA IN LIMPOPO WANT ACTION AGAINST ZEBEDIELA CITRUS’S ESTATE LOOTING

DA Provincial Spokesperson for Agriculture, Lindy Wilson opened a case of theft at the Zebediela police station earlier today. She says these actions have the potential to devalue the property. Diminishing any chances of finding an investor to breathe life into the citrus farm.

“This morning I laid charges against the Bjatladi communal property association,” she said.

“This association applied for voluntary liquidation in April this year. Once the voluntary liquidation is granted all assets on the farm and the estate become the property of the master of the court or a designated trustee.

‘However, this weekend we have evidence that not only with the CPA destroying property, removing implements and anything of the value to the farm. They have completely disregarded the regulations in this regard. This constitutes theft and we have today laid charges against them and we look forward to following this case further,” added Lindy Wilson.

Zebediela Citrus Estate was once the biggest producer of oranges in the Southern Hemisphere. It was returned to the Bjatladi community under the land reform process in 2003.