Muni should engage, shack dwellers say

POLOKWANE – Residents of section 133 in Seshego zone 5 are up in arms with Polokwane Municipality over threats to demolish their houses.

This, while admitting that they have received letters from the municipality which advise them to not build any form of a structure on the newly-allocated stands.

Most of the residents are shack dwellers who are eager to stay in solid structures. These stands were allocated to residents in 2018.

One of the residents who spoke on condition of anonymity said the municipality informed them a week ago that no resident is allowed to build any form of a structure at the new stands. “The municipality told us that whoever wants to build must submit a plan to be approved by architects and engineers. Nobody told us that we should submit any plans; this is new information to us and we are disappointed. People have already built three and four rooms on their yards and the announcement has brought a lot of discomfort. They have spent their last cent on those structures; all they need is the municipality to clarify the situation.”

Another resident said they are baffled by the treatment they are receiving from the municipality. “There are those that want to start building houses at their stands but they are in the dark, they don’t know if they should start with their projects or wait for the municipality to give them the go-ahead. The municipality should have made the pronouncement earlier so that these people know what to expect.”

The Spokesperson for Polokwane Municipality, Thipa Selala said the municipality had previously discouraged residents from building in order to first allow the installation of infrastructural services including water and sewer lines, and that all building plans must be approved. He refuted the claim that the municipality had threatened to demolish the structures.

“The municipality has set up a process to engage the affected residents through a formalised platform,” he said.