Residents of the Steve Biko Informal Settlement in Wesselton stay on for now
Resident were served with an interdict to vacate the land, but with assistance from the South African Communist Party, they got a reprieve and are staying on the land for now.
Members of the Amandlawethu Senior Committee, a structure tasked with looking after the interest of residents living at the Steve Biko Informal Settlement, show a man-made tap that they have constructed for the more than 400 households living at the settlement. The committee comprises Messrs Xolani Mlambo, Touch Thabiso, Labour Phakathi, Buyani Khumalo and Bhutiza Khumalo.
Residents of the Steve Biko Informal Settlement in Wesselton are staying put for now.
So said the Amandlawethu Senior Committee, a leadership structure of the residents, that spoke on behalf of everyone living in the informal settlement.
The group is adamant they are going nowhere and has begun to install their own amenities in a bid to ease living conditions in the settlement.
As reportedly previously by the Highvelder, Steve Biko residents were served with an interdict to vacate the land and to remove their housing structures on 2 May.
According to the residents the land in question was meant for an agricultural project that was overseen by the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs.
This they said is trivial compared to people owning land and no human being should be overlooked to having a vegetable garden.
The issue was brought before the courts, with representatives of the residents set to attend the case at the High Court sitting at the Mpumalanga Circuit Court in Middelburg.
That must still happen after the South African Communist Party (SACP) joined and assisted residents in the fight for land.
The communist party recently led a march over the issue of land during which the MEC of Agriculture and Rural Development and Land Administration in Mpumalanga, Mr Vusi Shongwe, represented the Premier’s office and accepted the memorandum.
In the memorandum, the Steve Biko informal settlement issue was raised with the party and they requested the Premier’s office to use the office’s power to let the residents stay on the land until the issuing of sites and land has been finalised.
However, Amandlawethu said they will not vacate the land, because the allocation of land is a lengthy and tedious process with long waiting lists.
“That process will take months and we already have houses, so why should we move?” asked Mr Bhutiza Khumalo, member of the committee.
With no amenities on site, the group installed their own “tap” which they dug and constructed from a nearby pump.
The more than 400 households use this tap for water.
The group also dug pits for toilets.
“We have to make do with what we have. It is either going into the veld to relieve yourself or using these long drop toilets,” another member said.
Members of the Amandlawethu Senior Committee, a structure tasked with looking after the interests of residents living in the Steve Biko Informal Settlement, show a man-made hole that they constructed for a long-drop toilet. The committee comprises Messrs Xolani Mlambo, Bhutiza Khumalo, Labour Phakathi and Buyani Khumalo.
The group maintained they would be happy once the settlement has been recognised by the municipality and basic services are provided to one and all.
However, it will be a high mountain to climb as informal settlements are not recognised by the municipality, and the residents invaded the land.
