Coronation squatters live in harmony with neighbours

Maybe this is what the late President Nelson Mandela had in mind when he said black and white people can live together in harmony.

“I am happy. Our new neighbours are very friendly and I have no doubt that we will be living together just fine,” said Edward Jansen van Vuuren, new owner of shiny shack 5A in Madiba Road, Munsieville.

He is one of the Coronation Park Caravan Park squatters who have been given a piece of land after Mogale City Local Municipality (MCLM) obtained a court order, forcing the more than 300 mostly white families to move so they can start constructing their R22 million dream park.

Initially after receiving the news about their having to move the squatters were upset, but now most of them to whom the news had spoken said they were happy they did move.

“I do not for one moment regret moving to Munsieville,” said Anna Kruger.

“The people here are very friendly and they have assisted us in so many ways by helping us with things we need.”

She said many came over for a visit just to chat.

Precious Woshele and Adrniral Chinotsa are a black couple who also came from the camp where they lived for two years.

“We have seen so much love from the people from this area. I came here with just a blanket and a mattress, but now I have extra clothing, furniture and even food,” said Woshele.

She said she was given two beds by the community that will enable her children, who live in Soweto, to come and live with her.

“My sons could not stay with me before because the place in which I lived was too small for all of us.”

When asked about their experiences with the rain of the past few weeks the new residents said the structures that were put up by the Red Ants were built poorly, but a generous anonymous donor provided them with plastic sheets to cover the roofs to prevent the rain from pouring in.

Read more about their living conditions and the way forward in next week’s edition of the news.