Glen Marikana’s journey: From evictions to fighting for the land
“The challenge is the Ward 4 community told us we need to share the land 50/50, but according to the land survey, the land parcel can only accommodate the 1 300 Glen Marikana residents."
Thembisa Ward 4 residents are at loggerheads with the former residents of Glen Marikana.
This follows the eviction of residents from Glen Marikana on July 24.
After the eviction, they allocated the community of Glen Marikana land in Oakmoor, Thembisa.
According to Glen Marikana residents, the problems arose when they arrived at the allocated land.
“When we arrived at the land parcel we thought was ours, there were residents of Thembisa who said they were against us staying there,” said one resident.
ALSO READ: CoE comments on Glen Marikana’s fight for land
The resident said he was told by Thembisa residents that the land belongs to the municipality and because the municipality is the ANC, the Ward 4 land belonged to the ANC residents.
Glen Marikana committee member Ellen Mashiane said that Ward 4 residents said they would not give EFF supporters the land, while ANC supporters have no place to stay.
“The people who claim not to have a place to stay left their own houses to fight with us who have no place to stay,” said Mashiane.
Mashiane said the former residents of Glen Marikana had slept on the road for two weeks since their eviction.
He added the residents were told the Oakmoor land was for them.
ALSO READ: Glen Marikana shacks demolished in Kempton Park
“We don’t understand why Ward 4 residents are fighting with us, for the land allocated to us,” he said.
He added while everything was going on, the community was still in mourning for a fellow resident who was shot and later died.
Mashiane said that the MMC for human settlements had agreed with the councillor.
“The challenge is the Ward 4 community told us we need to share the land 50/50, but according to the land survey, the land parcel can only accommodate the 1 300 Glen Marikana residents,” said Mashiane.
He questioned what would happen to the remaining half of the Glen Marikana community should residents settle for the 50/50 land split.
“Where are they going to stay?”
Mashiane believes Ward 4 residents should have considered people from Glen Marikana first.
“If there is any space left, that is where Ward 4 residents can benefit.”
He said residents were waiting for a letter which confirmed the land belonged to the community of Glen Marikana.
ALSO READ: National Shutdown: Glen Marikana protesters list their demands
“The station commander from the Olifantsfontein Police Station and EMPD needs this letter,” said Mashiane.
Mashiane told The Thembisan he believes the City of Ekurhuleni failed Glen Marikana residents.
EMPD media liaison officer Marie Mashishi said the community of Glen Marikana tried to move on land on the other side of the land they were allocated.
She added this portion of land belonged to Prasa.
“The EMPD officers engaged these residents. They became violent, but officers managed to speak to them until they understood, where they moved back to the allocated land,” said Mashishi.
The chairperson of the community safety committee, Lethabo Rachidi, said the rented mob masquerading as community members tried to sell stands meant for residents of Glen Marikana.
ALSO READ: Family desperate to find missing Glen Marikana man
“These people would be exposed as they attempted to hijack the land occupation program.
“The city allocated the land to the community of Glen Marikana after the eviction.”
He added that the CoE must protect the residents of Glen Marikana against such opportunists through law enforcement.
