Alleged illegal shacks removed by Red Ants
On Wednesday, Skoonplaas Informal Settlement was once again in the spotlight when the Red Ants Security Forces were seen demolishing empty and newly erected structures.
Members from the Springs police and the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department were on the scene to maintain law and order.
Lt Col Kobedi Mokheseng EMPD spokesman says the metro called the Red Ants for help to remove alleged illegal structures.
Read: Skoonplaas ‘land grabbing’ to be halted
“Our job was only to look after the safety and security of the community, ” he says.
Ward councillor Ramesh Sheodin says the residents are trying to get an urgent interdict from the Gauteng High Court to prevent the removal of the structures.
“The EMPD and Gold One Modder East Operations are awaiting the outcome of the application,” he says.
New Kleinfontein Goldmine (Pty) Ltd, trading as Gold One Modder East Operations, started leasing the property from Ekurhuleni Metro 11 years ago when the settlers were already on the property.
A “gentleman’s agreement” between Gold One and the residents was reached that they could remain on the property, provided they don’t build any further structures or grow the number of residents in any way.
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Sheodin claims there were only about 40 structures at the time of the “agreement”, but in 2015 this number began to increase which led to Gold One handing out a court document (notice of motion) to the residents to inform them that the structures would be removed from the property.
The application appeared in the Gauteng High Court on July 14, 2015.
The Red Ants were called in to remove all the structures which were erected in contravention with the court order.
The court ordered that the respondents are prohibited from selling any portion of the property, erecting any further structures or encouraging or instigating any person to construct any structure, as well as removing all newly erected structures.
“However, this wasn’t adhered to and pieces of land are still allegedly being sold for R2 000 for the building of shacks,” he says.
Skoonplaas residents who wished not to be named claim it is all about the illegal selling of land “which doesn’t belong to the alleged sellers”.
The chief operating officer of Gold One William Oasi, was not available for comment after numerous attempts to contact Gold One.
