MATAFFIN- “As they chucked us out of the house I saw my mother lying down on the ground.”
The above describes what transpired this morning in an area demarcated for a cemetery where some people including Lesedi Tshaka’s family occupied the land illegally.
Tshaka related how they were forcefully removed by Security Consortuim SA. She had been informed by her mother to remove their furniture earlier on after she heard that the municipality would come to demolish.
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“When my mother bought this stand she was not aware it was a risk to build a structure. However, today we have no place to sleep and my mother just collapsed. We are helpless and do not know what to do,” she cried hysterically.
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The family of eight has been residing there since 2019. Among other residents is a woman who spoke on anonymity said she had received a letter stating they would be evicted after the Covid-19 pandemic. She admits she took it lightly because the person who had sold the piece of land to her had assured her all was in order.
A court order stating that in the event that the First Respondents who are currently in occupation of the structures erected fail to vacate the property within three months after the state of national disaster has ended was issued.
SEE COURT ORDER:
City of Mbombela Local Municipality spokesperson Joseph Ngala said the stance of the municipality remains the same.
“The Matsafeni Community Trust took the matter to court. In any event, we are against any form of land invasion irrespective of whether the land belongs to the municipality or not. It impacts negatively on our planning and development because the minute people invade land, they demand services. Some even tamper with the services provided like water and electricity that are budgeted for,” said Ngala.
Matsafeni Community Trust spokesperson, Benny Mabunda declined to comment due to the conditions of the court order. However, he referred to their attorney who could not be reached.
