BOIKETLONG.- The 10-year old protest action by residents of Boiketlong informal settlement has finally yielded positive results.
The land has finally been approved for development by the Surveyor General from Gauteng Department of Environmental Affairs – giving the Human Settlements department in the province a go-ahead to start with the construction of RDP houses.
These latest developments were brought to the people of Boiketlong by Emfuleni Local Municipality Mayor Mahole Mofokeng who addressed a public meeting in the area on Sunday evening.
It was in this public gathering that Sipho Manganyi, a member of the “Boiketlong Four”, stood up and pleaded with the mayor to scrap a case opened against community leaders in May 2013.
“I spent seven months in Groenpunt prison for something that I didn’t do. Please go and drop that case immediately my brother, you’ve got that power,” he pleaded with Mayor Mofokeng.
Known as the Boiketlong Four, Sipho, Dinah Makhetha, Dan Molefe and Pulane Mahlangu became popular in May 2013.
This is after the four community leaders were accused of burning down the home of local councillor Maselloane Nthebe during a violent service delivery protest.
They were arrested, charged with arson, assault and malicious damage to property.
After Pulane fled, the remaining three community activists were found guilty of all charges and sentenced to 16-years imprisonment each.
Pulane was never found and remains a fugitive who’s wanted by the police.
Sipho, Dinah and Dan were released from prison last year after a high court ruling granted them leave to appeal the case.
This was after grueling pressure from Boiketlong residents and civil society groups.
Urging the Mayor to make a promise to his plea, Sipho said: “Make a promise to the Boiketlong people that this case will be dropped at no cost, we had to ask people of Boiketlong who are not working to make contributions so we pay the lawyers,” he said.
Sipho told the public meeting that the “Boiketlong Four” owe thousands in unpaid legal fees.
“Lawyers are calling us day in day out, we’re asking you deep in our hearts to intervene and save our lives,” he asked.
In his response to Sipho’s plea, Mayor Mofokeng clearly stated he will not get involved in the ongoing criminal case against the “Boiketlong Four”.
“As a mayor I don’t have powers to intervene in an ongoing case.”
Regarding the issues of housing in the area, Mofokeng used the meeting to inform Boiketlong residents that a thousand RDP houses are on the cards for Extensions 30, 31 and 32.
“Contractors will be on site before the end of the February,” he said.
