The Zimbabwean farm on which prominent South African farmer and businessman Crawford von Abo was arrested on Monday was not one of those which the Zimbabwean government had ordered to be evacuated, his son Pieter said on Monday.
An eviction order was earlier issued for Von Abo senior’s Fauna ranch, about 100km north of Beitbridge, but the state had withdrawn it, his son told Sapa from Bothaville in the Free State.
”It seems as if there is no law and order.”
Crawford von Abo, also from Bothaville, is a former chairman of the SA Maize Board and member of the Wheat Board. Besides his South African interests, he owned extensive farmland in Zimbabwe, Pieter von Abo said.
”All of the farms had been occupied, but not one of them legally in terms of Zimbabwe’s own new legislation.”
Andries Botha, Democratic Alliance representative on rural safety, said Crawford von Abo and his wife Bibi arrived at Fauna ranch on Sunday.
”He went there to see how he could assist his staff, who have been subjected to various forms of harassment by ‘war veterans’ and the authorities.”
Pieter von Abo said armed war veterans arrested both his father and his farm manager, Willem Klopper around 1.30pm.
”They were apparently taken to Mwenezi’s cells.”
He said he had given instructions to an attorney who would fly from Pretoria to Zimbabwe on Tuesday.
Botha said he had asked South Africa’s High Commissioner in Zimbabwe, Jerry Ndou, to ensure Von Abo’s well-being.
Mrs von Abo went to stay in a hotel, as it was considered unsafe on the farm.
Pieter von Abo said he had been in contact with the South African Foreign Affairs Department, who confirmed Von Abo’s arrest.
It said that according to Ndou, Von Abo was arrested during a visit to his farm on Monday afternoon.
”Mr Ndou has given his assurance that Mr Von Abo will be accorded the normal consular services provided to all South Africans arrested abroad,” Foreign Affairs representative Ronnie Mamoepa said.
”This will include visitation by officials from the South African High Commission, ensure the family is informed of the arrest, proper legal representation and see to the welfare of Mr Von Abo.”
He said the high commission would remain in constant contact with Zimbabwean authorities to find an early resolution to the matter.
The DA earlier on Monday requested a snap debate in the National Assembly on the Zimbabwe issue. About 2 900 farmers in Zimbabwe were given until August 8 to leave their homes, but about two-thirds are said to have ignored the order.
By late on Sunday at least 147 farmers had been arrested for defying the order. – Sapa