Vandalism and theft at Ocean View Organic Farmers has caused devastating losses for the farm and its workers.
Sophia Grodes, from the Ocean View Organic Farmers, an initiative by the “Kos Gangsters” as they call themselves, says theft has become “very bad”.
“We can’t become sustainable with one foot forward and one foot back. Produce and infrastructure get stolen and then sold in the community.”
Grodes adds that in three days vandals dismantled and took infrastructure to the scrapyard.
“We also lost the whole harvest that yielded green pepper, pumpkin, cabbage. A guy walked past with a whole wheelie bin full of green peppers. We plant seasonal crops per season. From September up to February our summer crops were stolen. That produce is just gone, vanished.”
The women from the Organic Farmers, which is situated at Ocean View High School, started their venture five years ago and say theft and vandalism have been an ongoing battle.
“The inventory of plants taken is worth around R20 000. Medicinal plants have gone missing over a period of time. The hot house, which we received from Germany, is gone. We can’t open the cafe because the chairs and two tables were stolen. Recently, around 40 cabbages went missing.”
Due to the constant theft and loss of productivity, they cannot fulfill obligations at food markets either.
“We can’t go to a market or sign an agreement with anyone because we don’t know what would happen next. It is sad. We have lost nine fruitful markets because of the situation.
“There is food insecurity and they don’t understand the urgency of why we are here. If they are hungry, they can come to us; we want healthy living in the community and we need to educate them.”
Her main message to residents of Ocean View is not to support the sale of vegetables when they know the person they are buying from does not have a farm or business.
“If you know John or Piet don’t have a farm, please don’t entertain them. It took us five years of learning. We went through an intensive training and we are the historians in Ocean View, a farm-driven by females.
“I also want to invite the community because I want to share the knowledge with them.”
Stealing produce from the farm is really stealing from the community, she continues.
“I am angry! This is also depriving their children of a nutritious and healthy meal at the end of the day. It is sad because some kids go to bed hungry. We also donate produce and our heart is with our community.”
A hole in the perimeter fence of the school is not helping matters as those who are stealing the produce are aware that it is easy to gain access to the farm.
Mansoer Ismail, chair of the Ocean View Community Policing Forum (CPF), says they are aware of the situation.
“The problem with the property where the farm is located is that there are CCTV cameras but there are trees in the way. Every time something is stolen from the property, we can’t do our work if the trees and cameras are not maintained.
“We have told them they need to get their security for their garden and I understand it is a community garden and it is not a profitable garden. We have also spoken to people to tell them not to buy produce on the street. We believe they (vandals) take it to Masiphumelele to be sold.”
