Official’s death not cause of flood victims relocation postponement, says metro
The residents claim a metro official told them a relocation process was stopped due to the death of the human settlement department employee Mthokozisi Ntumba who was killed during student protests at Wits University.
The Tshwane has denied that the memorial service for Tshwane metro official killed during student protests at Wits, was the reason for the delay in the relocation of the Eerste Fabrieke in Mamelodi flood victims.
A representative of the group, who was displaced following a flood of a nearby river during heavy rains in December 2019, claimed their relocation ground to a halt after a metro human settlements department official, Mthokozisi Ntumba, died last week.
Their said planned relocation was set to take place on 15 March.
“But the trucks to move us never arrived,” said representative December Matlala.
The group has threatened to take the Tshwane metro to the Pretoria High Court.
“Enough is enough. We are taking the metro to court,” said Matlala.
Ntumba was a bystander allegedly killed by four police officers, who are now standing trial for his death. This was during a student protest in Johannesburg.
A memorial service was held in his honour by Tshwane staff members on Wednesday. This apparently led to the intended move being aborted.
Flood victims claimed they were told by an official from the department at the Mamelodi municipal offices that the intended move would not take place.
The victims said meetings with Tshwane metro officials in the past were fruitless.
“The residents were ready to be relocated and took days off in preparation for the relocation process, but Tshwane metro disappointed residents,” said Matlala.
“We want to know why the relocation process is disrupted by the passing of [Ntumba].
“We have pleaded with the metro for so long, to speed up the relocation process and move us to a safer place.”
The group said they have handed over “more than 10 memorandums” of grievances to Tshwane metro offices in Mamelodi and at the Union Buildings, but no one was taking them seriously.
Tshwane metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo, however, denied that Ntumba’s death was the reason behind the delays.
“It is insensitive that such allegations are communicated to the community.”
Mashigo said the metro did present the relocation plan to the leaders of the informal settlement and the plan was approved by the participants from all informal settlements affected.
“The planned relocation was supposed to commence on the 15 March this year as agreed, with all stakeholders including the councillors,” said Mashigo.
The metro has, however, experienced some delays because of issues surrounding the procurement of a service provider for the clearance of the site.
“The department has informed all leaders and councillors about the current relocation status – delays included,” Mashigo said.
“The relocation process will now commence on 6 April.
“Then the site will be ready and 650 people from Eerste Fabrieke, Seven Seven, K54 and Transit Camp 1 will be moved as contained in the relocation plan approved by all stakeholders.”
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