Juju Valley: a dream or reality?

POLOKWANE – Althugh people only moved to ‘Juju Valley’, situated between Seshego Zone 1 and the Matlala road around eight months ago, the piece of land is already home to more than 2 000 shacks.

EFF Councillor for ward 13, Oupa Ramaphoko, moved from his house to one of the shacks with his family to experience the challenges his people face daily.

Several other EFF members joined him in the move. Ramaphoko said to the dwellers the EFF has a big feast planned for 16 June with a bull which will be slaughtered.

“Those who believe in Africa will be allowed to perform their ritual in the ground. I plan to hand over a list of Juju Valley dwellers to the Polokwane Municipality so they must deliver services here as well.

“We must build our own community hall where our kids will be able to go and read their books.

“We are still going to allocate more stands and Polokwane Municipality must come and collect refuse,” he said.

EFF Provincial Secretary, Jossey Buthane, said there is a fruitful and productive discussion with the farm owner.

Spokesperson for the Polokwane Municipality, Matshidiso Mothapo, said the municipality has no record of establishing the settlement of ‘Juju Valley’. He added the municipality is not part of the allocation of stands process or the settlement.

“The portion of land referred to does not belong to the municipality, but is privately owned.

“The last correspondence from the owner regarding settlement on his land was that a court interdict was granted to remove those who settled there.

“The land is agricultural and not zoned for residential purposes. The municipality has no plans to provide services on this land or any other land that does not belong to it.

“The municipality is engaging with the property owner in this regard. What we know is that the land has private ownership and we do not know who gave the land to the settlers,” Mothapo said.

The owner of the land could not be reached at the time of going to print.

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