SHARPEVILLE.- The community of Ngali Drive in Matebeleng, Vuka Section, Sharpeville is up in arms following what they term the ‘sale’ of a community park in their section to a church.
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The sale was allegedly approved by Ward 14 Councillor, Mpho Serapelo, who is also a Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Shared Services in the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM). The community members said that leaders of a church recently arrived to take measurements at a park they started and have been maintaining since the early 80’s.
When asked by the community, the church leaders apparently said that Serapelo knew about what they were doing and that they had been at the ELM offices where they were granted permission to set up their church. Meanwhile, the community members told Sedibeng Ster that they do not need a church at their park.
“We do not want a church here; we have our own (churches). The municipality has a lot of land, why did they decide to come and set up their church here? Where are our children going to play, should they go to the streets? They (the church leaders) will never build a church here. We are not against churches; we have our own churches. We do not need them to come and set up here, right in front of our gates,” community members said in unison.
The residents further complained about the fact that they were not consulted about the alleged sale of the land, and that they “do not know” Serapelo as she does not come and hold meetings with them or consult them about any other matters that concerns them. Their concern about the sale of the park is also about their children’s safety.
Speaking to Sedibeng Ster on Monday Serapelo said that what she was aware of is that the church leaders had gone to the ELM offices and requested the land.
“There are two churches that are that side they made me aware they are there but for temporally (sic), but they not placed where there is park because the community has been taking care of that place for quite some time. I know nothing about the sale of the land. I was also told that they (the church leaders) went to the office (ELM’s Head Office in Vanderbijlpark) to require land for their church. They apparently went to the Housing and Parks Departments. I do not know anything, and I will look into them case as a matter of urgency,” Serapelo said.
