South African family history, genealogy, heritage and interesting places, past and present. All articles researched and written by Anne Lehmkuhl. COPYRIGHT ANNE LEHMKUHL, no article can be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission. EMAIL ME
Claiming land Kruger gave them
The descendants of three Indian settlers who knew Paul Kruger have lodged one of South Africa’s biggest land claims on property worth more than R150-million. The Bakharia family from Rustenburg is claiming land in North West Province that includes buildings belonging to the Bafokeng nation, which has made a fortune from the area’s platinum mines. Among the properties are the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace, Bafokeng Plaza, a police station and a service station. The Bakharia family had valued the land at between R150-million and R180-million. The original Bakharia brothers - Suliman Ahmed, Ismail Mohammed and Mahmood Ahmed - settled on a farm in Rustenburg after arriving in South Africa. The farm was owned by President Kruger of the Transvaal, who allowed them to live and trade there. During the Anglo-Boer War, the brothers gave the Boer fighters food and shelter. Kruger gave them the farm Kookfontein in recognition of this. The land was later expropriated under apartheid. Details of the claim emerged at the recent insolvency hearing of Mahmood Ahmed Bakharia’s grandson, Suliman Bakharia, who was declared insolvent in 1998 when his general dealer business ran into difficulties. Families of the 3 brothers left certain members of the family out of their claim. Disputes arose over who was the rightful owner of the land, who had shares and who didn’t.