Re: The Shoba community

Stella La Reservee writes:-

Well, well! It was with great interest that I read the article in the Herald about the people living in the Shoba (rapidly growing!) township and how they have been told to move out.

As you said, this has been going on for about three years so I ask the question, “Why is this happening NOW!” The Municipality have known about it for this long and I have mentioned it on several occasions in your worthy publication.

These people have been allowed to spend their life savings building these houses (if these are the ones I am thinking of, on the side of the Hlobane road) and have worked tirelessly every day to build the home of their dreams. Unfortunately, the land is owned privately and has never been transferred from agricultural to domestic, hence there is no sewage disposal, no electricity, no water and no refuse collections. A health hazard waiting for a disaster to happen!

As the AbaQulusi Municipality stretches as far as Louwsburg, I wonder if the powers that be make regular inspections of their areas, or was it three years since anyone has ventured 20kms outside of town?

My sympathy goes to all those who have settled there, but who is going to pay the price? Who will be held responsible?

If these people were told the utilities were to be put into place, who told them? You can rest assured that these people will not be reimbursed the monies paid for their plot.

Once again, questions are asked, and answers are not forthcoming. As usual, the whole thing is swept away under the carpet but now there are nearly 1,000 plots involved. How many people does that involve? The mind boggles.