Mooibank residents “celebrate” a year of being a community

Mooibank Azaniaville residents say they can’t believe it’s been a long year of fighting for their rights as a community.

Over the past year, the residents have been back and forth to the municipality to get basic services.“It took about eight months for four Jojo tanks to be installed and getting them filled was another long fight,” Charles Lekgetho (36), one of the community leaders said.

“Even though the water is slightly brown and has made many of us sick, we are grateful for the gesture, nonetheless.”

On 12 January 2021, the J.B. Marks Municipality allegedly moved the residents from Sarafina, where they had been living for two years, to Mooibank Azaniaville. Back then, residents were evicted from their previous residence because they were informed that there had originally been a plan to build a school where they were living.

“We were forced to move like dogs, and it was raining heavily that day. Most of us either lost some of our belongings or saw them destroyed,” Charles added.

When they were moved, they were allegedly told they would be a municipal priority. However, they did not see any promises fulfilled until the fourth week of August when they got the Jojo tanks.

According to the residents, the municipality promised basic needs like toilets, water and electricity. Instead, they faced even worse conditions than before, with no one to complain to. “We couldn’t even blame the councillor who moved us here; all they did was take orders from the municipality,” Andrew Pelele (36), one of the residents said.

Most of these residents are unemployed and have trouble making ends meet. “We are only begging the municipality to recognise us as a community. We are even willing to pay for the basic services,” Andrew added.

The residents went on to say that, before they were moved, the councillor promised that they would find allocated stands upon their arrival. However, Mooibank is still considered an illegal settlement.

“It’s been months and nothing has changed, regardless of how many times we have been to the municipality. We have given up because it seems no one is willing to hear us,” Andrew said.
While the residents say they are extremely grateful for the JoJo tanks as it is a step forward, it isn’t enough. They are concerned about the lack of electricity in the area, as it gets extremely dark once the night settles in.

“Our children struggle to get their schoolwork done because we don’t have electricity. The area has quickly become dangerous because criminals take advantage of the blackness at night,” another resident, Enoch Mbulale (28), shared.

“Our grandmothers and girls are being raped at night and there is nothing we can do to stop it. This place is no longer safe and we, unfortunately, have no choice but to stay here because we have nowhere else to go.”

“We aren’t asking the municipality for anything more than they promised us when we moved here,” another resident added.

The High Court in Mahikeng issued an eviction order in March last year. It ordered that the occupants of the land were there illegally and would have to be evicted as soon as the government had lifted the state of disaster.
The Herald asked the municipality for comment but none was received by the time of going to print.