Mooibank residents hope for the best amid eviction updates

The acting municipal spokesperson, Jeanette Tshite, confirmed on Friday morning, 31 March, that the Mooibank residents will move within the next 14 days, as opposed to 31 March, as previously set by the court.

According to Tshite, the 14-day ex-tension refers to the period in which the sheriff of the court allows land occupiers to prepare for the relocation before moving to the identified property. Another source, who asked not to be named, says a special council meeting on 30 March revealed that the Mooibank people would relocate to Klipdrift.

“Fourteen farmers’ cattle are currently grazing on that piece of property,” she said, adding that the farmers recently learned about J.B. Marks’s plans and were furious. The source further confirmed that no basic services are available on the property. “The windmill is broken, and there is usually just enough water for the cattle,” she said.

According to the source, the 14-day notice period expires on 11 April 2023, but the final eviction date is 17 April. Mooibank residents have been up in arms since learning they would be evicted no later than Friday, 31 March.

Community leader Charles Lekgetho appears to be defeated, saying they no longer trust any information from the municipality. “They have been playing with our emotions since this issue started two years ago,” he lamented.

“We are approaching the Easter weekend and cannot make plans to see our families because we fear our homes will no longer be there when we return.” When the Herald asked the ward councillor Johan Zerwick for up-dates, he said he had not received any. Charles says there are rumours that the farmers at Klipdrift are contesting the move.

“The residents here [Mooibank] do not support this decision. As we previously indicated, it is a great inconvenience for us,” he said. “Our family’s graves are nearby. Now, I will have to travel over 20 km to visit the gravesite.” The residents cannot understand why they were not moved to vacant plots in Ikageng instead. “All we can do is wait and see what happens,” Charles said.

The J.B. Marks Municipality’s application to remove the occupiers from part of the land was initially granted in March 2021. Due to the Covid state of disaster, however, the order was lifted. After the state of disaster passed, the occupiers remained. However, on Thursday, 9 March, the Mmabatho High Court issued an order requiring the illegal land occupiers to be removed from the area on or before 31 March.

The national and provincial agriculture and rural development department agreed to the order. The Potchefstroom Agricultural College currently uses the land in Mooibank. The residents say they were un-aware of the new eviction order and do not accept the court ruling.

According to them, the J.B. Marks mayor Gaba Ka Qhele had agreed to inform them where they would move as soon as it had been established that the municipality planned to relocate them to another area, “They have failed us,” a resident who asked to remain anonymous lamented. “Every day is a different story.”