The poor family has struggled to make ends meet for almost its entire existence besides the bitter fight for land with Mmadikgomo Babusi, the daughter of a paternal aunt.After being forcefully evicted in May from the compound they have been living in for their entire life, the Semongs had to bear the brunt of the cold winter in an open space nearby.They have nowhere to go. They have never owned any land apart from the field they have been told to vacate after Babusi won the battle for its rights. Their predicament worsened when their son who had been ill for sometime, succumbed to illness.
They say the doctor told them that he died as a result of the cold.While they had a double dose of troubles, having to arrange for the funeral and find an alternative place of residence, their problems compounded as orders for the evacuation of the contested piece of land persisted. Officers assigned to carry out the order seemed more determined to ensure that the family would have a troubled bereavement.Efforts by the elderly father, Tlhowe Semong to give his son a dignified send-off proved futile. After being granted a temporary stay by Kgosi Bakwena on Thursday, the tables turned just 24 hours later when a tribal administration officer accompanied by three police officers arrived with a new Savingram, cancelling the earlier communication.
