Dweller dilemma
SANDTON – Metro have gone into George Lea North Park to remove the illegal squatters. A resident asked, is this humane?
A heated debate has ensued between the bleeding hearts and law enforcers about George Lea North Park on 9 June.
The issue of the illegal squatters that have set up their homes in the park was explained in the Sandton Chronicle article, Tough life in the shadows.
On 9 June, Metro police staged an intervention and went into the park to remove the squatters and dismantle their homes, although the term ‘home’ can hardly be used to describe the makeshift structures made of sticks and dustbin bags.
Metro police spokesperson, Edna Mamonyane said, “People have to realise that a park is not an informal settlement where people can live and this is why Metro intervened. A park is a place where people can relax and be a part of nature. We cannot allow people to have permanent homes in these places illegally – and they all have the option of going to a homeless shelter. They should not be in George Lea Park.”
She further explained that the park is not a suitable place for children to live as a river runs through the area. “Imagine if a child crawled into that river and drowned. It would be so terrible. Children deserve better.”
A Sandton Chronicle journalist witnessed Metro removing the squatters who were agreeable and did not fight with Metro. One, who did not want to disclose his name said, “I am a humble man and I will not fight with these police.”
A Sandton resident, who wishes only to be referred to as Ayesha, said, “Humane solutions [need to be used to solve the issue of squatters] and perhaps we should study how cities within our country and elsewhere are dealing with homelessness.”
Another Morningside resident, who has chosen to remain anonymous, said, “My heart breaks for these people. Children, elderly and innocent individuals are forced to live in such terrible conditions. George Lea is their only home so we should improve on their living conditions there and not remove them. Is it humane to force them out?”
The journalist went in search of the Klakafo family in the park, the family that was introduced in the aforementioned article. This family from Lesotho lives in the park. The journalist tried to locate the structure that was once their home but it was no longer there.
The journalist eventually found Bonang Klakafo who said, “My wife and child are in a homeless shelter in Alexandra but it is only a temporary place. There is no space for me there at the shelter so I don’t know where I will be tonight. I did not know that this raid would happen so I didn’t make arrangements to get home to Lesotho. What am I going to do?”
As the journalist drove away, she witnessed hoards of the George Lea dwellers carrying their belongings across the road to a nearby church in the hope of finding a helping hand.
Read more:
Community outrage at squatter camp in George Lea
Illegal dumping hits George Lea
