Farmer Renee Knupp has denied allegations of blocking a neighbour's access to a proclaimed road running through his farm, Kwaggapoort, in the ||Kharas Region. The dispute has escalated to the regional leadership, prompting an on-site intervention.
The ||Kharas regional leadership, led by Governor Dawid Gertze and accompanied by police, immigration, and Roads Authority officials, visited the farm on Friday to intervene.
Neighbouring farmer Elizabeth Shikongo maintains that Knupp unlawfully closed the proclaimed road, preventing public access to and from her farm, Abos 80.
"We saw him placing poles along the road, but we still had access initially. However, last Thursday, when my husband tried to drive to our farm, the road was closed. He tried to use the other gate, but that was also locked," said Shikongo. According to her, Knupp went on to "put up boards with vulgar language that offended us. Is this how neighbours, who should cooperate, treat each other? I told him we could help watch each other's farms, but he refuses to respond. That is why I called for help."
Governor Gertze described the road restrictions as a "national issue" and defended the presence of the NBC News team after the farm owner requested they leave the premises.
"I had a very difficult discussion regarding this situation. I am the governor of this region, and the NBC team is here on my instruction. Whether the roadway is private property or not, this situation is of national importance, and that is how I view it."
Residents from nearby settlement farms, allegedly denied access, reached out to Berseba Constituency Councillor Raymond Jossop.
He noted that the Roads Authority has confirmed the road's status and previously instructed Knupp to open it, but he reportedly failed to comply.
"Just grant the people access. If they had had access yesterday, they wouldn't have called me this morning. If there were free access, I don't think we would be standing here today. Give your neighbours the access required by law on this proclaimed road."
Knupp, however, denies the allegations, claiming the road has remained open.
"You are saying the proclaimed road was not reopened at the instruction of the Roads Authority? Just now, the Roads Authority said the proclaimed road was open this morning."
The regional leadership and stakeholders have demanded that Knupp keep the road open for public use. They warned that failure to comply would result in the matter being handled in accordance with the law.