Ann Eveleth
The Randfontein council ordered the demolition of more than 1 000 shacks on vacant municipal land this week because there might be sinkholes on the property, said council chief executive officer Edward Lambani.
At least one person was shot dead and another stabbed on Tuesday this week, when police and 300 private security guards moved in to demolish a burgeoning informal settlement on the outskirts of Randfonteins Mohlakeng township, in terms of a court order granted last month.
The South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) condemned the brutality and heavy-handedness of the action and accused the council of dishing out worse treatment than apartheid-era councillors. Sanco called for the resignation of local councillors they said had failed to address the growing housing crisis.
But Lambani said negotiations had been ongoing with the homeless population, many of whom lived in tiny shacks in the gardens of more affluent township residents. It was these Mohlakeng residents who later complained about the growing shack settlement.
Lambani said the invaded farmland had been sold to the local council prior to 1994, but admitted it had stood vacant in the interim. But we cant have people moving on to any piece of vacant land. We must first ascertain that it is suitable for housing.
This is a mining area. The Randfontein Gold Estates are only 5km away there could be sinkholes on that land, he said.
Lambani added that provincial money could facilitate a new site-and- service location for this weeks evictees as early as next week, but admitted that bureaucratic processes would likely prevent this happening before early next year.