Centurion informal settlement residents want to be moved
There are about fourteen children living there of which about three should attend schools, and don’t have the opportunity to do so currently.
Residents of Marikana informal settlement, on the corner of Hall and West streets, Centurion, agree with the metro that they need to move elsewhere.
According to DA councillor of ward 78 Peter Sutton, “there is no use in relocating the reality of informal settlement elsewhere by just moving the residents to yet another location”.
He met with the residents on Monday morning to inform them that a meeting was scheduled for next week to start profiling the settlers.
“Meetings between various departments of the metro, the owner of the land, all stakeholders and the settlers have already taken place and we decided to assist to assist the settlers.
“Informal settlements are a reality, not only in Centurion but the entire country. We are in the midst of a humanitarian crisis. That is also the only reason why the metro got involved since the vacant land belongs to a private owner.”
Sutton said there is currently a legal dispute between the metro and the owner of the land, who in terms of the law was obliged to find alternative accommodation and evict the informal settlers from his land.
“But there are many problems that this informal settlement poses for other residents in the area. There were especially complaints about the smoke and pollution caused by the settlers. They used to burn waste to make fires for heat to cook and so forth.
“Health and hygienic issues were also raised.”
Sutton said the metro provided the settlement with a skip where they can dump waste, as well as running water and portable toilets.”
He said this didn’t solve the problem though and that is why he approached the metro for assistance.
“As part of looking for suitable alternative accommodation, we need to profile the residents of the settlement.”
Sutton said there are around 250 shacks, and around 500 people are living there now that have been living there for 10 years.
“They do have an informal recycling movement going and started to clean up the area.
“We can only make sensible decisions by profiling them because not all of them would necessarily be able to be moved to the same location. We need to know their ages, gender, and family structures and conditions they live in.”
Sutton said what concerned him most, was that about 14 children lived there, of which three should attend school, but did not have the opportunity to do so currently.
There are four community leaders of Marikana, namely Ashley Ntshan, Abel Ntshan, Foster Matholsi and Joey Moloi, who discuss matters with the residents.
Community leader Ashley Ntshan said they wished to co-operate with the metro.
“We have been living here for 10 years without any help from anyone. Councillor Sutton wants to help us, for which we are grateful. We trust the metro can assist us to improve our lives.
“This settlement is not suitable for children and here are only three toilets, we are suffering.
“All of these issues need to be addressed properly to improve living conditions. We need to restore dignity and alleviate poverty,” Sutton said.
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