New settlement a cause for concern
The public said if the council attempted to demolish any of their structures as it did early in March this year, they would request it to demolish all the structures erected in the area.
EMJINDINI – The establishment of yet another informal settlement – Mthethomusha in Emjindini – is adding to the municipality’s woes.
The settlement, overlooking Extension 11 in the area that used to house the Lurex Maize Depot, was established last Friday. As for Umjindi, it appeared that as one challenge was addressed, another emerged. Like the Kosovo Villa residents, this community has vowed to stay.
“As long as our councillors continue to lie the way they do, people will continue to invade any open land which is available. All they keep telling us is that there are four farms which were bought, but there is a waiting list. How much longer should we suffer?” said a young man who only identified himself as Siyabonga and didn’t want to be photographed.
He was among the youngsters who were found busy setting up their structures when Barberton Times visited the area last Wednesday. “It’s not that we envy these so-called councillors of their success, but almost all of them, when they resumed their office term in 2011, were not driving cars and were available for our complaints prior to the elections. Now, because they have corruptly enriched themselves and are driving fancy vehicles, they are no longer available for us, their constituency who put them in offices. The issue of allocating stands is simple (sic),” said Siyabonga.
The residents said they decided to call their place Mthethomusha (new rules) because they wanted to make new rules when it came to decisions regarding their lives. Another resident, Lucky Shabangu said the municipality officials were to blame. “My idea to reduce the number of informal settlements, is that since there are many people on the waiting list, the municipality should give people plots with electricity and toilets,” he said.
The public said if the council attempted to demolish any of their structures as it did early in March this year, they would request it to demolish all the structures erected in the area. This newspaper had previously reported that the Ward 4 councillor, Anthea Mthunywa was accused of unequal treatment after ordering demolition of some structures, while others were left untouched.
“If Mthunywa says some shacks have stand numbers, we want to know how they get it. We would like to warn them that if they touch any of the newly built structures, they will witness what they have never before,” said Shabangu.
