A group of Ventersdorp residents are taking J.B. Marks to the high court for forcibly evicting them from their stands time and again. They say the erstwhile Ventersdorp municipality allocated those stands to them legally.
Hundred Ventersdorp residents forcibly evicted
We have proof that we are beneficiaries of the stands
Piet Kankas, the group’s representative says they all have proof and stand numbers that the Ventersdorp municipality allocated the land to them.
‘We disagree that this was an illegal process. The stands were advertised and we applied for them. We submitted ID copies, bank statements, salary slips and filled out the applications forms. Thereafter, the Ventersdorp municipality called us and gave us letters signed by the municipality with stand numbers. At that time, the municipality had not yet determined a price for the sites as the evaluation and development of the sites had yet to take place. But, every time we want to move, they stop us from occupying our stands,’ he said.
Kankas says that, on 24 January this year, they had a meeting with the executive mayor, Kgotso Khumalo. He pleaded with them not to take the matter to court, promising to resolve the issue and allowing them to move to the site at a later stage. ‘We agreed to pay R15 000 for the allocated sites, starting with the payment of a R1500 deposit each in March this year. It seems there is a communication breakdown between the municipal officials and the mayor because the officials told us that they know nothing about the agreement with the mayor,’ said Kankas.
The site that was invaded earmarked to cater for a higher income bracket
On Wednesday, Maphosa denied that any sites had been allocated to any individual residents. ‘The municipality has no record of such allocations. We confirm that at one stage during the time of the erstwhile Ventersdorp municipality, an official acted illegally and corruptly and allocated sites to individuals without the council’s permission or knowledge. The official concerned was disciplined and dismissed from his job.’
‘Council members and officials have consistently explained this position. The site that was invaded has been earmarked to cater for a higher income bracket. The stands, beginning from R24 000, will soon be advertised.
‘People who cannot afford to buy these sites are ordinarily catered for and invited to include their names on the housing waiting list,’ said Maphosa.
Mayor has instructed the member of the mayoral committee and manager of housing to investigate
The mayoral spokesperson, Victor Boqo concurred with Maphosa. He says the former Ventersdorp municipality never took a resolution to sell the land, and that the land was sold illegally. He also confirmed that the mayor had met with the residents to listen to their problems.
‘The mayor instructed the member of the mayoral committee and the manager for housing to conduct investigations into the matter.
‘The process will start next week. Each and every resident who says they have received letters saying they are the legal occupants of the stands will be interviewed. The outcome of the investigation will determine whether they were allocated legally or illegally.’
