Mieder Park resident reacts to the mayor’s decision
A resident from Mieder Park did not take the mayor's decision not to evict Mooibank residents lightly. She says the municipal management had made a one-sided decision without proper public engagement.
On Monday, 9 May, the executive mayor, Gaba Ka Qhele, visited Mooibank residents and addressed them on eviction from the area. The mayor informed the residents that they should not be worried as they would not be evicted anytime soon.
One resident from Mieder Park, Adèlle Jerling, did not take this lightly because she says the municipal management had made a one-sided decision without proper public engagement. “The rights of the permanent residents who pay rates and taxes have been ignored and the scales of justice have once again turned against the residents of Mieder Park,” she said in a letter.
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.
Jerling argues that what was supposed to be a temporary living arrangement has become a permanent reality. “Even though there are court orders that these residents should be moved to a proper site with services, the new mayor has now gone back and informed them that they will not be evicted,” she said.
In the meeting with Mooibank residents earlier this month, Ka Qhele said the municipality aims to formalise the informal settlement for residents by providing them with basic services before any eviction decision is made. “Should the residents feel they want to move, our job is to provide them with alternative places. However, I disagree 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,” he said.
“How can a new community be promised services when the current residents are already complaining about broken service delivery? “What was originally a community of fewer than 50 has grown to over 200. “Crime has increased in Mieder Park, with a house opposite the entrance road to “Azaniaville” being burgled eight times since the new community started,” Jerling argues.
“The municipality has not even done a proper investigation on who stays there and who the real owners of the stands are,” she added. Jerling says public participation is enshrined in the Constitution. “We have a right to be heard but, instead, this municipality has built a proud history of non-compliance, ignoring court orders and decisions, corruption, theft, turning a blind eye, ignoring residents, and abusing its mandate to become the tail that wags the dog,” she said. “Residents need to stand together and start with legal proceedings against the municipality. They should not be the drivers of this vehicle; we are! Let’s do this.”
