New stands for Glen Marikana residents

A happy ending awaited the Glen Marikana residents who previously occupied the area illegally and were moved by a court order from Kempton Park to Putfontein.

As promised by the Ekurhuleni municipality, Glen Marikana residents will occupy the Putfontein land permanently and in due course they will receive water and electricity after everyone has settled down.

The municipality promised to register people for RDP housing, but it is advantageous if one already has approval.

Community leader Kwena Monama is very happy that the municipality has moved them to a better and safer area.

“I am excited that our fellow brother and sisters will be able to live a better life and be happy once again. Now we have the assurance that we will never be evicted; we do not have to live in fear anymore,” said Monama.

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When the City Times visited the area on February 28, 300 of the 3 000 shacks were already erected. The moving process started on February 24.

“Nothing makes you happier than having a permanent stand of your own, a stand that has sufficient space. Where we were before it was more like a squatter camp,” said Siyamthanda Manguye, a resident.

The relocation to Putfontein also had its disadvantages, as some residents encountered a problem with transportation to and from the area, schoolgoing children are now further from school, and working residents are also now further from their working environments.

Benoni Taxi Association (BTA) and Kempton Park Taxi Association (KPTA) have decided to provide transportation for the residents to and from work or school.

They are negotiating terms of which passengers will be catered for. The taxi associations are willing to help this newly established community.

Representative of KPTA Sfiso Nkosi said the community belongs to them, so it is their responsibility to take care of the community’s transportation needs.

“We are in the process of looking at the exact number of children who will be using transport to go to Kempton Park,” he said.

The process of moving will continue until March 31, 2020.