Child shot in Mariannridge land invasion clash

THE Mariannridge land invasion saga took a turn for the worse on Saturday as a 14-year-old boy was shot in his leg following a stand-off between the municipality land invasion unit and residents.

This comes after Mariannridge residents decided to take over land illegally saying they are tired of empty promises as they have waited 16 years for the government to build them houses.

A distressed and concerned pre-school owner, Maud Norris, said the incident on Saturday was really disturbing as small children had to witness the violence.

“On the day, the Mariannridge Educare Forum was hosting a fund-raising fun day. Then Red Ants came to the area to demolish structures that have been put up by the residents.”

The plot taken possession of by the residents is directly opposite a playground where the fun day was being held.

ALSO READ: Residents and municipality clash over Mariannridge land invasion 

“It was clear and obvious that we were hosting a fun day as there were children running around, inflatables and we advertised this day three months prior. The security officers saw this, but that did not stop them from shooting at the residents with rubber bullets and using tear gas.”

The disturbed Norris said the situation was so bad, “the young children were crying in terror.”

“Couldn’t they have waited for some other time to do this. As law enforcers, they are suppose to protect us, especially children. I am not against them doing their job but the timing was bad.

“What kind of behaviour is this? Is this the kind of environment that we want to raise our children in?” asked Norris.

Responding to this incident, DA PR councillor for ward 13, Marlaine Nair contacted the principal of the school for clarity.

Principal Ntungwa explained that a meeting with the city’s land invasion unit and other stakeholders resulted in a decision to ‘cease any involvement from the Land Invasion Unit until the school exams were completed’.

ALSO READ: Protesters clash with police in Mariannridge

“While this is a good arrangement to ensure the safety of learners, it is concerning that during this period, several shacks will go up without intervention from the city’s land invasion unit.

“It is indeed very sad that people have to resort to land grab because government has failed to build them the houses that were promised. I am aware of the huge housing problem in this area and how the council flats in the area are terribly overcrowded,” said Nair.

She said she thinks the people of Mariannridge deserve better.

“This is also unfair to residents who have spent their hard-earned money to build formal houses and now, with the influx of shacks, their properties are being devalued and their safety is being compromised.

ALSO READ: Mariannridge shack dwellers left in the cold

“I receive calls almost daily from residents feeling intimidated by shack dwellers and who are concerned about their safety and also residents reporting illegal water and electricity connections to informal houses,” said Nair.

She added that she will be taking the matter up with the DA spokesperson for human settlements in the KZN Legislature, requesting for him to query what the reasons are for the delay in houses being built in Mariannridge.

Ward 13 ANC councillor, Reginald Bouy Cloete, told the Highway Mail that the housing project has started in that area as 22 houses are being built.

He said there is a budget for 500 houses which will begin next year January.

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