This is the unofficial history of OUKLOOF, in the Riebeek Valley. We say 'unofficial' because while some of the information is well documented, other information is based on the memory of elderly locals and hearsay.
Oukloof
Around 1920, an area owned by the Dutch Reformed Church in Riebeek Kasteel, was allocated as a "location" (a popular name for non-white areas in the 20th century). Thus the Oukloof location was established as a coloured residential area. The church assumed responsibility for administering this settlement, and nominal sums were paid annually for water to the Church. The residents built their own houses, mostly from home made clay bricks and stones, but were prohibited from owning the land. They built themselves a church, which doubled as a school.
Then, in 1965, when the land belonged to the Village Management Board, a decision was made to extend of the white residential area. The residents of Oukloof were told they had to move to a new area, further from the town centre. They adults were not happy about this, but it seems many of the children were excited to move to newly built homes and a big school. The Oukloof residents were forced to the newly built township, Esterhof, named after a local school principal, Mr Esterhuizen. The houses at Esterhof at the time were worse than the homes the claimants were removed from, and the Oukloof homes were demolished, along with the church. The municipality at the time, promised that after 10 years the houses would be theirs, provided they kept up their municipal bills.
A total of 57 households were removed at the time of the dispossession and eventually 56 households lodged a Restitution claim. When claimants initially lodged their claims, they stated that they did not want restoration of the dispossessed property, but wanted tenure upgrade and a structural upgrade of their municipal house in Esterhof. Also, the majority of the claimants could not attain full tenure security because their payments for rates, housing and services were in arrears with the Malmesbury Municipality. The Commission decided to compensate claims financially, in order to settle their arrears with the Municipality authority, and allow them to acquire full tenure security. The full financial compensation was R980 000, which was split amongst 56 families, so that each family received R17 500.
Related:
Oukloof
Around 1920, an area owned by the Dutch Reformed Church in Riebeek Kasteel, was allocated as a "location" (a popular name for non-white areas in the 20th century). Thus the Oukloof location was established as a coloured residential area. The church assumed responsibility for administering this settlement, and nominal sums were paid annually for water to the Church. The residents built their own houses, mostly from home made clay bricks and stones, but were prohibited from owning the land. They built themselves a church, which doubled as a school.
Then, in 1965, when the land belonged to the Village Management Board, a decision was made to extend of the white residential area. The residents of Oukloof were told they had to move to a new area, further from the town centre. They adults were not happy about this, but it seems many of the children were excited to move to newly built homes and a big school. The Oukloof residents were forced to the newly built township, Esterhof, named after a local school principal, Mr Esterhuizen. The houses at Esterhof at the time were worse than the homes the claimants were removed from, and the Oukloof homes were demolished, along with the church. The municipality at the time, promised that after 10 years the houses would be theirs, provided they kept up their municipal bills.
A total of 57 households were removed at the time of the dispossession and eventually 56 households lodged a Restitution claim. When claimants initially lodged their claims, they stated that they did not want restoration of the dispossessed property, but wanted tenure upgrade and a structural upgrade of their municipal house in Esterhof. Also, the majority of the claimants could not attain full tenure security because their payments for rates, housing and services were in arrears with the Malmesbury Municipality. The Commission decided to compensate claims financially, in order to settle their arrears with the Municipality authority, and allow them to acquire full tenure security. The full financial compensation was R980 000, which was split amongst 56 families, so that each family received R17 500.
Related:
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