A Paarl family says they will pursue any and all avenues to stop the Western Cape Department of Infrastructure from forcefully expropriating their family land to build a new section of the R45 between Paarl and Franschhoek.
The Adams family has for several years been in an ongoing battle with the provincial infrastructure department after it “informed” them of its plans to upgrade a portion of the R45, linking Paarl and Franschhoek, which will run directly through their smallholding situated on its shoulder.
According to an expropriation notice issued to the family by the department last month construction is set to begin in January next year. It gives the family 60 days from the date of the notice to indicate the amount claimed by them as compensation.
Megan-Leigh Adams, whose parents and brother still live on the piece of land they call “Adamsvale” told Paarl Post no amount would ever be enough and they strongly opposed to the department’s intended use of the land.
“Adamsvale has been in our family since 1948. It’s our family land. It’s where my daddy ran bare-footed and where my niece now currently runs barefooted. We will fight for our home, regardless of what it takes.”
She said her grandfather, Moos Adams, bought the piece of land in 1948.
“Our family has since been living and making a living on this land. My father, Smuts Adams, was born a year later in 1949. Back then the apartheid government had already taken a piece of our land to build Simondium Prison. I am utterly disturbed the government under our new democratic dispensation also wants to take a portion.
“My dad had a stroke seven years ago. Both my parents are in they 70s. So I ask myself why should they have to live their last years out with construction going on? This doesn’t even take into account not mentioning the safety aspect of having a road run through here.”
Responding to Paarl Post’s enquiry, Jandré Bakker, spokesperson for the Western Cape Infrastructure Department, said the road project was “all systems go”, and it was waiting for an offer from the Adams family.
He said the department was in the process of appointing an independent valuer.
“The expropriating legislation determines that the expropriating authority must compensate the landowner in respect of the land expropriated, and such compensation must be at the market value of the land and for any financial losses, if any, suffered as a direct result of the expropriation.”
Bakker said if one is not received the department will make the family a compensation offer based on the independent valuation report.
He claimed the department did indeed undergo a consultation process with all stakeholders, including the Adams family, “as determined by the National Environment Management Act (Act 107 of 1998)”.
Adams, however, said she and her family will not make or accept any offers made.
“Money can’t be used to be applied as a means of placing value on our lives and homes and, even less, can it be used to compensate for forcibly removing generational legacy and heritage. We wonder if the elitist estate and wine farms in the immediate areas had an influence on the road going through our property and not theirs.”
According to Bakker “all the appeals lodged against the project were dismissed by the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning and a record of decision was issued to proceed with the project.”
