Video: Empumelelweni residents left stranded and homeless

Concerned residents gathered outside the Emalahleni Local Municipality building to demand answers after their houses were demolished “without any notice,” on Thursday, June 04.

Sphiwe Mncube from ‘New Settlements’ Empumelelweni, alongside 12 others said they had to make arrangements to sleep at their friends’ houses after law enforcement with some municipal officials came to the settlement to destroy people’s homes.

“We never got any notice, and we have been staying there for seven months now without any problems.”

He said destruction erupted when they questioned authorities why their homes were destroyed without any prescribed notice.

“They did not respond to our questions but instead opened fire on us when we tried to talk with them or taking pictures, our items of furniture were left broken,” he added.

When asked if they are staying at the settlements legally, the residents confirmed to be lawful homeowners of the area.

“If it was a land grab situation, they would have destroyed our homes within weeks, but people have been staying at the settlement for seven months now, that is our biggest worry and concern from us that how can they wait for seven months to evacuate people, and it is during lockdown people are supposed to be in quarantine but they have no way to go and sleep,” he explained adding that the municipality denied knowledge about the incident.

“We did not get any direct answers from the municipality, they denied any involvement in the incident but they had a front end loader, a Toyota Quantum and a private car with law enforcement members armed and shooting at us; now no one is taking any responsibility.”

Sphiwe continued that they tried to open a case at Vosman Police Station, but instead, they were redirected to the municipal offices.

“We are confused, we do not know what is going to happen to the people now that they do not have homes, because no one is willing to give us answers; we do not know where to go.”

Another resident who wished to remain anonymous said he was left heartbroken when he saw his hard work to have a house being destroyed without a reason.

“I am unemployed, I had to get piece jobs so that I can be able to build my shack and when I managed to do that, now I no longer have a place to stay; we came here for answers on how are they going to resolve this issue, but it is falling on deaf ears, no clarity, just a promise to come back to us.”

Sphiwe further told WITBANK NEWS that the ward councillor of the area who could not be reached for comment before going to press allocated stands to three people amid their predicament.

“He called an urgent community meeting over the weekend; we waited for him, but he did not pitch.”

The municipal media liaison said he will in due time respond to questions sent to him by WITBANK NEWS.