Sunset Drive relocation woes
When the Northsider visited the plot, residents cited many concerns about their inhumane living conditions and the uncertainty about the way forward.
The ‘paradise’ that was promised to those who were relocated from Pinehaven near Cradlestone Mall to a property on Sunset Drive in Muldersdrift seems to be far from what they expected.
The community bemoans the poor living conditions on the plot, which have left some families reeling. A child died when an object pierced her upper body and another almost drowned after falling into an unmaintained swimming pool that is now home to frogs. These are only some of the painful incidents they had to endure during the short period they have lived on the property.
Read more here:
https://roodepoortnorthsider.co.za/288570/future-of-sunset-drive-settlement-residents-unsure/
An aggrieved dweller, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of victimisation, provided some background regarding the eviction. “The plot in Pinehaven used to be home to about 33 families who worked for the businesses that were located there back in the days. In 2015 we got an eviction letter stating that the plot was to be sold. We had consultations with the Mogale City Local Municipality (MCLM) to prevent the eviction and they promised to represent us. In November 2017 we were told by councillor Molefi Selibo that the plot had been sold and the buyers would provide us with an alternative and better place to live,” she explained.
The eviction materialised before the end of last year. The dweller told the publication that when they were moved to Sunset Drive, they found it to be not even close to what they had been promised. “Prior to the relocation, we were told only 300 people would be moved to Sunset Drive, but more than 500 people live there now. We were also told that we would get houses but I and my five children have been squashed into a two-bedroom house we share with five other families,” she lamented.
Another unhappy resident, who criticised MCLM for moving them without providing adequate services such as water and electricity said, “The municipality promised us services similar to what we had on the previous plot – stands, running water, taps and toilets. But when we got here we had the shock of our lives. The stands are so tiny, hence everyone has a very small shack. There was also no water. Some of the neighbours helped us by providing us with pumps to get water from the boreholes, and we were provided with only six mobile toilets that the more than 500 people have to share,” she vented.
Another frustration was that residents weren’t allowed to build permanent structures. Those who did had their buildings reduced to rubble without notice. They also fear being relocated again soon due to their presence being challenged in court by some of their neighbours.
A committee member, Joseph Mabasa, who shared development plans after a meeting with the councillor said, “During the meeting the councillor indicated to us that the relocation was permanent – according to the development plan, residents would only be moved from a shack to a house on the same plot,” he said.
Councillor Molefi Selibo confirmed what Mabasa said. He added that services will improve for the residents as the project was being fast-tracked by MCLM. “The neighbours should know that the people are there to stay. This eviction is the result of landowners who do not support such matters. They leave the land unoccupied and people end up living on it. MCLM had to intervene and provide land because it would reflect badly on the municipality if so many people were thrown out onto the streets,” he explained.
Regarding the infrastructure complaints, Selibo said they are aware of the insufficient infrastructure; however, a service provider is being appointed to provide the necessary services such as water. “The development is only three weeks old. The municipality has procedures; however, services are in the pipeline, but we can’t do everything right away,” he said.
He concluded by promising that most of the services will be rendered before the end of February.
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