Mayor gives Mooibank residents answers

Although not quite the answers they were hoping for, the mayor has promised the residents a way forward.

On Monday, 9 May, the executive mayor, Gaba Ka Qhele, paid Mooibank residents a long-awaited visit and addressed the elephant in the room.
Following the rumours on social media regarding Mooibank evictions, concerned residents embarked on a march on 30 March, demanding answers.

In Monday’s meeting, Ka Qhele said the issue of informal settlements in the municipality was urgent. He added that J.B. Marks aimed to provide them with basic services first. “I assure you that you will not be evicted anytime soon,” Ka Qhele assured the residents.

The ward councillor, Johan Zerwick, confirmed that a court order was issued last year but said he had not been updated on the progress. “To my knowledge, the land belongs to the Department of Agriculture,” he said.
On the other hand, the former municipal spokesperson, William Maphosa, told the Herald last October that the only obstacle preventing the authorities from removing them was the Covid-19 lockdown regulations.

Ka Qhele continued: “We aim to formalise your current living circumstances. Whether you stay here [Mooibank] or elsewhere will be entirely up to you as a community.
“Should the residents feel they want to move, our job is to provide them with alternative places. However, I do not agree with taking illegal residents and moving them to another informal settlement.
“Should you decide to stay here permanently, this land belongs to the government. We will work on bettering the living circumstances, one step at a time.”

It’s been almost two years since residents moved to Azaniaville. The councillors allegedly told them they would be a priority. However, all they had received after months of pleading with the municipality were Jojo water tanks.

“I sincerely apologise to you as a community because a councillor continuously told you lies in the past. I cannot erase the damage done, but we are here to rectify the mistakes,” Ka Qhele said.
He added that although he was sure there would be a change in the future, he could not give residents an exact date. “I am not one to tell people lies, and I will not start doing so today,” he said. “Although people occupy a place illegally, we, as the municipality, are obligated to provide them with essential services. You cannot continue to live in inhumane circumstances like these and, therefore, I assure you that help is on the way,” he added.

Ka Qhele urged the community to select a committee that will constantly work with the municipality to ensure that basic services are implemented. “Our aim is not to wait for community members to come to our offices; our duty is to go out to our people and help. Therefore, a committee will help bridge the communication gap,” he said.

The residents were not convinced. They previously had a committee that tried, in vain, to communicate with the municipality. However, the mayor promised that things would be different this time around. He said part of the budget had been set aside to provide residents with plastic bags for their garbage. However, the residents argued that they had more urgent needs like toilets and allocated stands.

“Those are, indeed, of great importance, and we will provide them. But we cannot do so unless your chosen committee confirms how many people we are dealing with,” Ka Qhele said.
For now, the residents can let their guard down because, according to the mayor, they are not going anywhere anytime soon.