Explosions a way of life
Residents of some informal settlements in Atteridgeville fear the land they live on because it is riddled with dangerous explosive devices.
“I was in charge of the shooting ranges in South Africa when I was in the military. In training we were never allowed to walk around the Schuverberg range in Atteridgeville. Schuverberg was later given to a government department,” said Samuels.
“Before they took over the land, I sent military teams, two or three times to the land to check with mine detectors for explosives. They found some, but others were buried too deeply and could not be detected. Before I retired in 1992, I told people there were still explosives on the land.”
Samuels said he believed the Pretoria West scrap metal dealer had bought the device that killed him from someone living in the informal settlements.
“Those people need to be moved from there because they are in danger. There are still a lot of live explosives on that land.”
Residents of Brazzaville, Phomolong, Jeffsville and Vergenoeg, said they were aware of people digging up the explosives in the mountains and selling them.
Some said the military was in Phomolong last week with mine detectors to check for explosives, and told residents that they are living in a danger zone.
Jane Phongwaye said. “The people from the military were here with big vans. They checked our area and told us we need to be moved from here as our lives are in danger and there are many explosives on the land.”
Phongwane said she was afraid her house would explode one day.
Matampane added: “What hurts is that the government knows what is going on here but still let us live here. Maybe they are waiting for more people to die in explosions before they can do something.”
Councillor Makola said moves were afoot to relocate the residents but some of them were reluctant to move.
“There is already some land that we can be relocated to, but people need to be willing to move because this land is not good for human inhabitation. We need to move away from these deadly weapons,” Makola pleaded. Comment from the SA National Defence Force could not be obtained immediately.
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