UPINGTON, SOUTH AFRICA, About 20 families from South Africa’s indigenous Khomani San community living in Upington in Northern Cape Province have accused their local municipality of violating their cultural rights.

They claim that the Dawid Kruiper Municipality, which is named after a renowned Khomani San leader, has evicted them from a piece of land which they have been occupying for more than four years and which is important to them in the practice of their culture.

They’re pinning their hopes on the Human Rights Commission and the Office of the Public Protector (Ombudsman), which they have approached for help.

Piet Barendse, a member of the Khomani San community, said Sunday that area was paramount for the conservation of their culture.

If Boesman people grow up in the field, like this child, they grow up in a tradition, culture and the skills. He doesn’t sit in a school to learn one plus one is two, no, because we are here to give the knowledge to other people on how the Boesman live in the field and how the Boesman grow up in the field. I want a little bit piece of land, not the whole land, a place to stay and to promote our culture, heritage, language, hunting and all other things.”

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK