“We are not going anywhere’” the illegal occupants of newly built for rent Nellmapius Extension 22 homes have told a Tshwane MEC.
The MEC for human settlements, Dikgang “Uhuru” Moiloa, had told residents at a meeting at the Rethabile sports ground in Mamelodi East where he had visited recently to hand over title deeds to locals.
Moiloa had pleaded with the occupiers to move so an electrician could wire the units next week, and advised them to go to the municipal office to apply for tenancy legally.
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Occupier Albert Mogotlane said Moiloa’s predecessor Mandla Nkomo promised them the rental stock units in 2016.
“We were told not to worry those flats belonged to Mamelodi residents and they are going to stay there.”
He said 2016 came and went, they had made several attempts to find out when Nkomo would hand over the units without luck so they had decided to move in on their own on 9 March.
“We are tired of empty promises,” said Mogotlane adding the occupiers had resolved they were going nowhere but willing to pay for municipal services.
The occupiers pleaded with the metro to connect them to the electricity grid and bulk water supply then leave them alone.
“We are residents of Mamelodi and we are not going anywhere we will rather die for that place, it belonged to us,” said Mogotlane.
Another occupier accused the metro of giving RDP houses in Mamelodi to people from outside the township “some come as far as Limpopo”.
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He claimed the metro had done nothing about other people who had illegally occupied the homes in Mamelodi West since 2014.
“Now that the residents of Mamelodi are taking what’s theirs you threaten to send the Red Ants to evict them,” said Mogotlane.
“Let them come we are waiting for them and let there be bloodshed, we will die for that place.”
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