Community invades municipal land

“We are sick and tired of Msukaligwa Municipality ignoring our rights and their empty promises,” said KwaCibikhulu, Chrissiesmeer residents as they invaded municipal land.

These residents recently invaded vacant land at Ward 19A and are vowing not go anywhere until their demands are met.

According to deputy chairman of the SA Civic Organisation (SANCO) in KwaCibikhulu, Jabu Shabalala, Chrissiesmeer residents are tired the municipality’s disregard of their basic human rights to potable water and fair allocation of land.

“We submitted a memorandum of demands to the municipality on 23 November last year and they promised to respond after two weeks, which to date has not happened,” said Shabalala.

Enquiries to the municipality about its lack of response to the memorandum were not answered, but the Msukaligwa Municipality spokesman, Mr Mandla Zwane, said the invaded land is marked for human settlement.

Other complaints from the residents include municipal officials who own more than three RDP houses; a councillor and a Chief Albert Luthuli official constantly threatening with violence those who invaded the land; preferential treatment to some who were given land without public notification; and a Chief Albert Luthuli official whose brother built a house on the same land from which they are being kept away.

Mr Zwane confirmed that no official complaints were forwarded to them about the councillor.

He added that it was not clear who allocated land to that group of people, as the municipality is an open book and follows proper channels in allocating land.

He further requested that officials who own more than one RDP house be reported to the municipality, councillor or office of the municipal manager

Attempts to get a response from the councillor and the Albert Luthuli official were unsuccessful.

However, Chrissiesmeer Police confirmed receiving several complaints by community members about the two threatening them with violence and others being abused verbally.