Mooibank continues to be a messy issue

A resident from Mieder Park, Adèlle Jerling, was not too pleased with the mayor following his Mooibank visit regarding the ongoing eviction issue on Monday, 9 May.

According to her, 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 Mieder Park residents,” she said in a letter.

Mooibank community leader, Charles Lekgetho, argues that the Department of Education is to blame. “They moved us from Gugulethu to here because a school was being built. During our move, they told us a budget had been set aside to develop the area we were moving to. Where is the money that was supposedly set aside?” he asked.
Lekgetho adds that, before they were moved, they lived in peace. “We were close to toilets, and water was accessible. There is no need for us to suffer like this, but we can’t keep blaming the municipality because we have an agreement with the mayor,” he said.

Lekgetho said the mayor had never stated that the land belonged to the residents. “We had agreed to remain here until there was a way forward,” he explained.
In the meeting with the Mooibank residents in May, Ka Qhele said the municipality aimed to formalise the informal settlement for residents by providing them with basic services before any eviction decision was 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. However, that decision is yet to be confirmed,” he said.
Jerling added that she was concerned because the crime in Mieder Park had increased since the new community started. She said a house opposite the entrance road to “Azaniaville” had been burgled eight times.
Lekgetho denies that this was the case. He said crime had always been an issue, even before the community developed.
“They are making up all sorts of stories that are not true as a way to get us out of this place. What proof do they have, because we, as a community, are also affected by crime?” he argued.

In her letter, Jerling suggested that residents need to stand together and institute legal proceedings against the municipality.
“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, becoming the tail that wags the dog,” she said.