WATCH: Mooibank residents set to move to Dassierand
On Saturday, 15 April, the Executive mayor of JB Marks municipality, Gaba Ka Qhele, held a meeting with community members about the new plans for people living in informal settlements.
On Saturday, 15 April, the Executive mayor of JB Marks municipality, Gaba Ka Qhele, held a meeting with community members about the new plans for people living in informal settlements.
The meeting was held after community members burned tyres on Friday, 14 April 2023, after it was announced that Mooibank residents would move to the newly allocated land on the Dassierand road leading to Promosa.
According to a source who did not want to be named, the municipality had planned to relocate the residents to Klipdraft without following any protocol. “They wanted to settle people there first and then only start the process of environmental impact assessment (EIA), public participation and establishment of the township,” she said.
The source further explained that the National Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform refused the establishment of a human settlement on the farm Klipdrift because the land was donated to the municipality for the establishment of upcoming farmers.
On Tuesday, 10 April, on the Dassierand road just before the entrance to Promosa, an inspection of the site now designated for Mooibank residents took place.
At the meeting on Saturday, 14 April, the mayor asked the community to be patient as this process takes time. It was also established that there are approximately 640 stands available on this piece of land to accommodate both the Promosa community and the Mooibank residents. However, community members stressed that this is not nearly enough for the people who are in need of stands.
Video: Ntsoaki Mokete.
According to the mayor, the allocation of stands and the relocation of Mooibank residents should be completed by Monday, April 17.
