Residents of the relocated Holfontein squatter camp in Trichardt claim the Govan Mbeki Municipality failed to fulfil its promises made before the lockdown.
They were promised two years ago that they would be relocated to the new formal residential stands next to Adullam, but this has still not happened.
Community members said they were surprised when they were told during the municipality’s Integrated Development Plan meeting on March 13, that the municipality is still looking for land on which to place them.
The original Holfontein squatter-camp residents were removed from farmland in 2016 and settled at Vlaklaagte near the Syferfontein and Isibonelo Mines.
Residents claim promises were made to them that they would be relocated to an area where services would be rendered.
The community initially voiced their grievances to the Govan Mbeki municipal offices that year.
They also held a peaceful march and handed over a memorandum that stipulates their complaints.
Their grievances included the lack of services and the lack of feedback from the then executive mayor, Ngxonono who allegedly promised to relocate them to an area near Adullam between Evander and eMbalenhle.
Seven people were arrested in connection with public unrest.
The Adullam issue failed because of underground mining.
Dumisani Madonsela, the Holfontein committee chairperson, said his community is the neglected people who are only seen during an IDP meeting every five years, and when politicians campaign for votes.
“The last relocation of our community was done nine years ago when Lindi Masina was the mayor and Mella Mahlangu was the municipal manager. Nothing happened after that.
“We asked the current municipality leadership to give us stands when they formalised Marikana Section in Kinross, but we were told that those residents invaded the municipal land with no underground mining.
“Right now, we have escalated the matter to the provincial Department of Human Settlement who asked the municipality why they are ignoring us.
“The municipality apparently told them that they had met with us during an IDP meeting.”
Madonsela said during this IDP meeting, they noticed that his community had not been catered for in the service delivery budget.”
Donald Green, acting communications manager at GMM, said the municipality held a meeting with the Holfontein community last Sunday and they were informed of the progress on their relocation to an alternative place.
He said it was established that the identified place near Adullam, was not going to be big enough to accommodate those residents who were on the list and talks are continuing with them in addressing the issue.
Three years ago, the disgruntled Holfontein community took to burning tyres and blocking the Vlaklaagte Road and the N17 highway near Trichardt.
The protest erupted as community members felt they were being ignored by the Govan Mbeki Municipality and the then executive mayor, Ms Thandi Ngxonono.
