Bekkersdal residents have refused to evacuate a piece of land that they illegally invaded recently despite a second court interdict issued to the leadership of the community restraining residents from occupying the vacant land.
This comes after over 600 resident of the troubled area went on the rampage recently and invaded the private property belonging to a local mining company.
The land in question is adjacent to the township.
According to a representative of the Westonaria Concerned Residents Association Thabang Wesi, residents are still defiant and adamant that they will not move.
“Residents of Bekkersdal are not going anywhere.
“The government has over the years failed our people and it has gotten to a point where they have decided to take matters into their own hands and build themselves houses.
“They cannot be blamed for this,” says Wesi.
He adds that the second interdict was issued to them on 23 January, less than 48 hours after receiving the first one.
“Upon receiving the interdict, we had to rush to court.
“We were shocked when this happened because we as the leaders never instructed anyone to invade the property in question.
“However, we are committed to the struggle of Bekkersdal and we are working with our lawyers to respond to the interdict,” says Wesi.
He adds that if anything, this should be seen as a sign that people are in need of houses and proper service delivery and that they will go to such lengths to ensure that they have adequate roofs over their heads.
“I can confirm that at this point, no structures have been erected, however, it seems to me that residents are not backing down and will continue claiming back what belongs to them.
“All the people ever wanted was service delivery in the form of houses, water and electricity as well as the suspension of the mayor,” says Wesi.
Meanwhile, Westonaria Local Municipality spokesperson Kgabane Madiehe has confirmed that an urgent interdict was issued to the leadership of the area and says that everything now rests in the hands of the law.
