Following the recent relocation of the informal settlers living behind Cradlestone Mall, Mogale City Local Municipality (MCLM) clarified their involvement on this matter.
The municipality faced harsh criticism from the public after they were blamed for not engaging the residents of Muldersdrift about the move.
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The dwellers were relocated from behind the mall by the Red Ants on 4 December, and transported to Plots 615 and 616 on Sunset Drive in Muldersdrift.
Only South African citizens were catered for during this process.
However, the residents heavily criticised the municipality for allegedly bypassing the public participation process which has left them with no choice but to challenge the relocation in court. The biggest concerns that came from the complainants were the decline in their property values and suspicion of criminal activities.
In a previous meeting with ward councillor Molefi Sebilo, he indicated that he conducted a public participation meeting and that the findings thereof were submitting as a report to the decision-makers.
Molly Mahlaba, the Acting Assistant Manager: Service Delivery and Monitoring at Mogale City, confirmed that the public participation meeting took place. “The MCLM, through its Ward 23 councillor, did engage in a public meeting in October 2018 after an alternative site was purchased,” she said.
She also confirmed knowledge of the relocation. “MCLM is aware of the relocation that took place from behind Cradlestone Mall. An eviction order was granted to Absa by the High Court of South Africa’s Gauteng Local Division, Johannesburg in 2015,” Mahlaba explained.
She also said that when Absa had applied for the motion to evict the occupants of its property, it had provided alternative accommodation for the the occupants.
Initially, the dwellers would have been without services, but after the Absa Group Media Relations officer, Bheki Mpofu, and Blue Age worked closely with the council of Mogale City to ensure a responsible relocation process, “Absa took full responsibility for the relocation by purchasing the land, paying for the relocation and providing temporary services,” said Mahlaba.
With regard to the potential crime scare and decline in property value, Mahlaba said, “The ‘squatters’ are from the same ward, they were only moved from one corner of it to another. It is difficult, therefore, to make an assertion with regard to an increase in crime and decline in property value”.
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