The J.B Marks municipality has confirmed that stands are being allocated in Extension 5, Promosa the area that the Department of Labour had suspended due to explosives that were found in the area a few years ago.
“The idea is to allocate the sites well in advance for formal settlement. This is to ensure that beneficiaries know where they are allocated and to avoid mass invasion”, says William Maphosa, the spokesperson of the municipality.
According to Maphosa, a tender has been advertised to sweep the area for explosives before the beneficiaries can begin moving in.
Extension 5 is not the only area that is earmarked as dangerous. Explosives were also found in Hillside View, Promosa. The Herald reported in December last year, that community of Hillside View, had discovered at least four mortars in their yards in Portion 1 alone.
According to a ward committee member of Hillside View, Butha Kleinhaans, the residents usually contact him and a 40-year-old man, who chose to remain anonymous, to assist them with the explosive devices. The pair removes them once they have been assessed. Kleinhaans says the man was part of the military and has knowledge of and is skilled in explosives. When he arrives at the scene, he usually checks the shape, size, and form of the bomb before removing it. He also checks whether there’s a fuse or not.
Colonel Adelé Myburgh, police spokesperson in the North West, said Ikageng police members had been notified of six highly explosive devices last year. She explained that they still have the potential to detonate, which is extremely dangerous. She added that the last device was found on 8 September 2020. “Only an expert would be able to determine if they are highly explosive or not, therefore members of the community are cautioned not to try and retrieve any suspicious devices. They should be left untouched and not moved or carried,” she said.
Last year the Herald contacted Captain Matthew Hlatshwayo, second in command at 17 Maintenance Unit for comment. He said the Department of Defence follows a particular protocol before disclosing any information regarding their operations. “Once it is in writing, then we will be able to respond to what has been written to us,” he said. In the end, the Herald didn’t receive any feedback.
