Watch: Glen Marikana residents say new land will not be ready
EFF: 'This is a big concern because if the government hasn’t started with anything, what is going to happen in October?'
With only five months left before Glen Marikana residents must move to Putfontein, the metro has done nothing to prepare the land.
To voice their concern, residents marched to the civic centre on Friday to hand over a memorandum.
Ekurhuleni’s Department of Human Settlements has been given seven days to respond to Glen Marikana residents’ list of demands.
The Johannesburg High Court ruled in November that the occupants must move to Putfontein in Benoni by no later than October 1.
EFF PR councillor Fikile Mafuyeka, who joined the march, said the EFF took it upon themselves to go and view the land the metro was meant to prepare for the move.
“Nothing has been done on the land. No water pipelines, toilets or any signs that show the people are going to be moved by October 1. This is a big concern because if the government hasn’t started with anything, what is going to happen in October?
“We are proactive and a step ahead because we don’t want people to be evicted unnecessarily because October 1 is the due date, meaning they were supposed to have started moving people already.”
According to Mafuyeka, the EFF leadership visited the land twice in the past two months.
The memorandum, which was read by Itani Mukwevho, the EFF’s provincial deputy chairperson, stated the residents were promised that by January 2019 the municipality would start with water pipe installations, roads and other human settlement necessities.
“None of the above had been being done. Seeing that we are just five months from the relocation deadline, we demand that the municipality gives us the detailed project plan when all developments will be completed.
“We also demand that the municipality takes us into its confidence should they not meet the deadline, to apply for an extension from the High Court. Please reply to this within seven working days.”
The memorandum was received by Vivian Chauke, MMC of Community Safety. This was disapproved of by the marchers as the memorandum was intended for the human settlements department.
“The memorandum and its issues must not be politicised. There are 25 EFF councillors in the municipality and we, as the ANC, must work with them to make sure this community gets a better life, it is not about who must do what,” said Chauke.
See more photographs here
“They must not shift the blame because they are part of the government and should not talk like people from outside.”
Chauke apologised for the services not done.
“I humble myself and say I am very sorry to a 65-year-old person with no house, toilet or drinking water in the house, which is not nice. I apologise on behalf of the executive of Ekurhuleni led by Clr Mzwandile Masina,” said Chauke.
“We won’t push away the responsibility. We must make sure these people get the essential services they deserve.”
