Residents of Ward 2 have taken a stand and are taking matters into their own hands as they continue to wait for the municipality to provide them with land to build their homes.

Despite repeated promises from authorities, the community has been left with no choice but to find its own solutions.

“We have been going to the municipality to ask for a piece of land to build our houses for about two years now,” said Zanele Maseko, a resident. “We go there almost every week. They then promised us that they would give 30 people a place, but we are still waiting.”

The situation escalated on May 17 when over 50 residents, fed up with waiting, forcefully built shacks on nearby open land. Although the Emalahleni Local Municipality law enforcement demolished the shacks on May 20 and again on May 23, the residents remain determined.

Councillor Ronald Thobela acknowledged the challenges faced by them. “As a councillor, I don’t have a place and power to take people and place them in a certain area,” he said.

The residents were promised a spot in Empumelelweni, but the process has been delayed due to payment issues for the surveyors.

“They promised that at least they can take 20 of the people and place them at Empumelelweni,” Clr Thobela explained.

Martha Mthombeni, another resident, shared her struggles with overcrowding and the lack of land. “Where I stay, there are many; we are 12. We don’t have a place to call our own. We are asking for a piece of land to build our house; that’s all we want.”

The community is set to meet with the municipality on May 26 to seek solutions to their land crisis. Despite the challenges, the residents remain determined to find a solution.

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