Illegal stands to be removed in Kwa-Thema
“I employ people, pay for services in this area and for 29 years I tried to do things by the book, but they kept on sending me from pillar to post."
Kwa-Thema – “Where am I supposed to go? I have been running my business on this spot for the past 29 years. This government doesn’t care about its people.”
These are the words of small business owner Banikeni Masilela, who runs a small fruit and veg market in Barcelona section located on the corner of Joe Mazamani and Vlakfontein roads.
He has received a verbal notice from Ward 80 councillor Wilson Busakwe that the market will be demolished soon.
Armed with applications to formally occupy the land, Banikeni said Busakwe refuses to meet with him.
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“I moved to this stand 29 years ago after being moved from Duduza Rank when they were building a formal structure.
“I went to the Springs Civic Centre to apply for the plot; they gave me a stand number, 15562.
“In 2006, I applied to buy the stand and we agreed on R90 000.
“Two years later when I went back to check the progress on my application, the assistant informed me that the metro is no longer selling these plots but leasing them for R700 a month.
“I submitted my application and a few months later I was informed my application was pending because the metro is planning to construct a road along the plot,” he explained.
Masilela said in 2016 he was asked to submit a plan of where his stand is situated, which he did.
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“Last year I received a call from the ward councillor asking that I move the shack back to make way for the road and I did.
“I was shocked last week Friday when I was informed that my market will be demolished soon,” he said.
Masilela added that he doesn’t know where to move his market.
“I employ people, pay for services in this area and for 29 years I tried to do things by the book, but they kept on sending me from pillar to post.
“Where must I go?” he asked.
In response, Busakwe said Masilela is occupying the land illegally.
“He doesn’t have any documentation proving he owns the land, all he has is applications which were turned down.
“We are removing all the illegal structures in the ward and his market is one of the identified sites,” he said.
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