More than four families evicted from privately-owned land, near Ext 7 in Wesselton have been left displaced.
The families, including the Nkambule’s, who were seen attempting to dismantle their shack during court-ordered evictions, were left homeless with nowhere to go.
As previously reported in the Highvelder, 8 February, Residents watch in horror how houses are destroyed, residents on that land, which they named ‘Chris Hani Informal Settlement’, were given 48 hours to vacate the land on Tuesday, 22 January.
The residents were livid and took to the streets, blocking the N11 Hendrina road with burning tyres and rocks.
Despite the resistance, the evictions took place and houses were demolished on Thursday, 31 January.
The families, which also included children, moved to neighbouring Ext 7 on Friday, 1 February, land belonging to Msukaligwa Municipality.
They were once again ordered by municipal officials to vacate the land as they were invading and it was illegal.
Once again, they resisted as they had nowhere to go and were sleeping in makeshift shelters made from blankets and shrubs.
The municipality intervened again on Friday, 8 February and allegedly told the residents to move to the “Nomzamo Agri-Village” near Lindile Secondary School, municipal land that has also seen land invasions.
“It was suprising how the municipality assisted us, even transporting our goods to Nomzamo Agri-village,” Mr Richard Mthembu, a resident, said.
However, things took a turn for the worse on Monday, 11 February when municipal officials went to “Nomzamo Agri-Village” and advised the families to move from that land because it was unsuitable for human occupation.
“It is mind-boggling how they tell us to move to Nomzamo and once again tell us to vacate it because it is not safe for human occupation,” Mr Mthembu said.
However, the families are standing firm and have vowed not to move as this instability is not fair and they have nowhere to go.
Community leaders of the area are also standing by the families and have welcomed them into their midst.
A relief for the Nkambule family, who have six children, two of them under the age of six and who have witnessed the turmoil of being homeless firsthand.
When the newspaper inquired at Msukaligwa Municipality as to why they are giving the families the runaround, the municipality disputed allegations that they had moved people from Ext 7 to the so-called “Nomzamo Agri-Village”.
“It is not correct that the people were moved from Wesselton, Ext 7 to the farm portion next to Lindile Secondary School by municipal officials, however, they were assisted to remove their belongings to a certain a house where they had made arrangements with the owner to do so,” municipal spokesman, Mr Mandla Zwane, said.
Mr Zwane added that it has, however, come to the attention of the municipality that one of the municipality’s tractor drivers transported people to that place.
“The municipality is verifying the veracity of these allegations and the investigation is still pending.”
“Unfortunately the municipality cannot at this stage disclose the details as the matter is dealt with internally.”
The newspaper also questioned whether the land in “Nomzamo Agri-Village” is suitable for human occupation, and the municipality said the area is not, because the land is just next to the sewer treatment plant and in an area which sees a lot of floods.
“The sewer pipes which are feeding the sewer treatment plant are crossing on the land which they have occupied,” Mr Zwane concluded.
