Tenants instructed to vacate
It might well be the end of the road for the residents of Maggiesdal, by the looks of it.
This small community next to the R40 has been living under the sword of eviction since before 2014, but now it seems people will have to vacate their rental homes before the end of the year as plans for a new development in that area are nearing finalisation.
The developer, Chryselda Building Construction, plans to start developing a new settlement soon which will include shops, housing, parks, sport facilities and more, said the development consultant, Elijah Mkhabela.
“We are just awaiting approval from the relevant departments, then there will be a tribunal, maybe some corrections, and we should be ready to develop the first phase, preparing roads and other infrastructure.”
“But nobody will have to just pack up and leave with nowhere to go. All the residents received application forms for alternative housing,” Mkhabela added.
He also gave the assurance that the graves on-site will be secured and preserved, and family of the deceased will have access to them.
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Members of the community experienced the first threats of eviction before 2014 already, when the original plans for the current development were tabled. The plans were revised after objections, but nothing ever came of it.
In 2017 the residents were once again threatened with eviction. The municipality claimed they never paid their rent. An internal audit later proved that they were victims of fraud, and they were able to stay on.
But then plans to develop the parliamentary village at Maggiesdal were tabled in 2017. Fortunately for the community, these were also revised and the village is now being developed at Mataffin.
But now they will have to make way for the new development, according to Cllr Tersia Marshall.
“It is a fantastic development which is only to the benefit of the greater community. You cannot fight for the survival of 40 people when the benefit of the community is so much bigger,” said Marshall.
According to Marshall, no one will be left destitute. Everyone in the community has been taken through a process of talks and the identification of different alternative options. They even have the option to get housing in the new development once it is completed.
“You must understand that this process is one that took its course over several years. This is not something out of the blue. The council of Mbombela even took a decision to let the community stay on until the very end. I believe the municipality will do the right thing and treat the community fairly,” said Marshall.
The community of Maggiesdal did not want to comment.
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