POLOKWANE – This is in response to videos which have been doing the rounds on social media where contractors are seen demolishing property in Mankweng.
Situation in Mankweng, #Limpopo
Houses are now being demolished by the #government cause they built homes where there's going to be a #school
Some were sold stands illegally some forced to live there, this is now the results. #https://t.co/0UgfDFseRi
— HYPE HONCHO (@HypeHoncho) November 6, 2019
In a statement, Municipal Spokesperson, Thipa Selala says the Erf on which the townhouses/units were built, belongs to the municipality and is allocated to the Department of Education. The erf is reserved for the building of a community school and all rights allocated to the property are reserved only for educational purposes.
He continues to say that this erf was first inspected in early 2016 after the municipality received a complaint of illegal land use. At the time of the first inspection, they were planning to build rooms for rental purposes. The owner of the rooms project was located and was engaged with a view of resolving the matter amicably. However, the owner was uncooperative and indicated that he will not stop with construction. After the second inspection, it was revealed that he continued with the construction and it was at this point that the municipality had no choice but to seek advice from the court of law.
In April 2016 an order of the High Court was granted in favour of the municipality. The order interdicted and restrained the respondent and anyone occupying the Erf from using the property for developments and further ordered the respondents to demolish and remove all buildings and other removable property from the erf within 14 days of the court order. In the event the respondents do not comply with the order, the sheriff was authorised to demolish and remove all property or structures on the erf.
The respondents were engaged several times between 2016 and 2019 and in these three years the court order was disregarded and construction on the erf continued for business purposes.
Polokwane Municipality is busy demolishing homes of the poor in Mankweng under the stewardship of Mayor Thembi Nkadimeng, who also happens to be the current President of SALGA! pic.twitter.com/2GmgbgUK3Y
— Kwena Molekwa (@Ruraltarain) November 7, 2019
“The municipality has exhausted all avenues to engage the respondents and eventually, a court order was implemented on Monday, 4 November by the sheriff.”
Selala adds that prior to the demolition, a demolition notice was issued to the tenants and the respondents.
He adds that illegal land use is one of the biggest challenges the municipality faces and resources have been set aside to monitor illegal land use in the business and residential areas. He warns that municipality will deal decisively with any matter regarding illegal land use after exhausting all avenues and encourages communities to respect land owned by government and not to occupy or build where they do not have permission to do so, he concluded.
