Tshwane metro approaches court to evict Mamelodi ‘water thief’ land invaders

The Tshwane metro has approached the courts to begin the process of evicting illegal land invaders near the Mamelodi reservoir.

Spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said because the current occupation took place recently, the City did not recognise the area as an informal settlement.

This follows continuous complaints of water shortages in Ikageng extension 3 phase 4.

The shortages also affected Emasangweni primary school, which has led to fed-up parents shutting down the school two days before the recent school holidays.

The metro has since allocated two water tankers to provide the school with water.

He said that the metro’s human settlements department relocated all the people squatting in the area in 2013.

Parents barricaded the school gates claiming land invaders are stealing their water.

James Tshabalala, a parent at the school, said the water problem must be addressed as soon as possible by the Tshwane metro and the Department of Education.

“We have been experiencing water shortages for the past two years,” he said.

“Nothing concrete has been done to deal with the matter.

Our children have to go to school dirty because there is no water for baths in the morning. And when they attend a school where the toilets can’t be flushed.

Our children, as well as senior citizens who are on chronic medication’s health, is at risk.

“We are blaming the people who connect water illegally and the ones who recently invaded land next to the reservoir, but the metro is failing to resolve the matter.”

Tshabalala said that schoolchildren had no choice but to carry at least two water bottles to school every day for hydration while teachers who have cars ferry water buckets to the school.

Parent Portia Mphuti agreed that the situation “is out of hand”.

“Recently a child collapsed because of dehydration. We can’t have only one truck delivering water to the school. What about the whole community?

“We are unable to wash, bath and cook,” said Mphuti.

She said a family near the school recently lost a loved one and they desperately needed water for the funeral.

To make things worse, she claimed that the water truck drivers demanded bribes to deliver the water.

“They want us to pay R300 to deliver water which is supposed to be free for everyone,” said Mphuti.

Mike Motseletsele, a pensioner, said the metro expected residents to pay for services but they couldn’t even remove illegal water connections.

“Life without water is very difficult,” he said.

“Where can our children go when they need to use the bathroom?”

“Some of the learners have already started using nearby bushes because the toilets are not working.

“Everyone is suffering. Both learners and the community,” he said.

The school holidays started on March 24 and will reopen on April 12.

Record is still awaiting comment from the Department of Education.

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