National police spokesperson, Vish Naidoo, says the official - whose name is known to OFM News - held an illegal meeting with residents at Tibbie Visser Avenue in Estoire in Bloemfontein before they were busted by the Navalsig police.

Meanwhile the DA Councillor of ward 47, Mokgadi Kganakga, who alerted the police to the gathering, says she tipped off the police after she became aware of the activity.

Kganakga says she understands that small holding farmers received a phone call from the Metro's Rural Development office on Wednesday to attend a meeting the following day at the Bram Fischer Community kraal.

OFM News has since on Thursday sent an equity to the Head of Rural Development, and are still waiting a response.

Kganakga says concerned residents on the day of the meeting called her as ward councillor to ask if she knew about the meeting. She ultimately raised the alarm with the police, which led to the penalties.

"On Thursday 9:00 some farmers left their homes to attend a meeting and was addressed by the General Manager (GM) and his team from Economic and Rural Development. When the councillor asked him why he was having a meeting during lockdown, he said he and his team were sent by the HOD and the MMC to address the community," Kganakga adds.

She says the GM failed to answer whether he had a permit for this type of gathering.  

Naidoo says one of the municipal officials alleged that he called them (farmers) to address issues of land invasion.

OFM News