From: as on

Government to pay millions of rands in damages to SA farmer

http://www.sabcnews.com

February 05 2010 , 6:54:00

Government will have to cough up hundreds of millions of rands in damages to
a South African farmer, after the North Gauteng High Court this morning ruled
in favour of Crawford Von Abo. Von Abo's farms were seized, crops damaged and
livestock killed in Zimbabwe as part of that country's land redistribution
programme.

The court found that the South African government was liable for Von Abo's
loss, as they neglected to put in place measures to prevent the violation of
his rights by the Zimbabwean government. Von Abo has fought a protracted
legal battle in the High Court and Constitutional Court.

In 2008, a court ruled that he was entitled to diplomatic protection from the
South African Government. Government was ordered to take steps to protect him
but failed to do so. Von Abo will now have to show just how much he has to be
compensated.