Future of Sunset Drive settlement residents unsure?
With no services and rumours of being relocated again, the question is when will these people finally have a place to call home?
The Plot 55 informal settlers who were relocated to Sunset Drive in Muldersdrift on 4 December were recently dealt another hard blow.
On Tuesday, 8 January, the Red Ants, a relocation and eviction service, descended on the settlement to break down any permanent structures.
The reason behind this is that they allegedly will be moved again, in June.
Read more:
https://krugersdorpnews.co.za/370334/residents-angry-about-relocation-of-informal-settlers/
For one resident who wants to remain anonymous, this was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
He said that he had sent a letter to Mogale City Local Municipality (MCLM) informing them that he would be building a brick house. He had laid the floor and built the walls – all that was needed was the roof and he would have his own home.
Without any warning the Red Ants were deployed and destroyed not only his home but everything else that was built with bricks or cement.
When asked where he would sleep on Tuesday night, he said that he would have to try and build himself a shack before nightfall or sleep on the street.
Photos: Supplied.
Another resident said after he was moved from Plot 55 some of his belongings went missing. When he got to the new settlement he was given a garage without a door to store his belongings in. He used a bed and a wardrobe to close the garage and went to find a place to sleep.
When he came back in the morning his double bed had been stolen and a few days later everything else that was in the garage was gone.
There were talks and promises of services being provided when the people were moved, but more than a month later there is still only one tap for water and no legal electricity supply. There are only 15 toilets for over 500 people.
“Neighbours tried to help the relocated people whose houses were being torn down but were told by MCLM representatives to leave the property immediately. It was heartbreaking to watch these people homeless again and see the devastation on the faces of those who have worked so hard for the little they have,” said Bianca Grossett, member of the steering committee at the Sunset premises.
This is the second time in little over a month that these residents have been left homeless and have to start from scratch.
The MCLM spokesperson was approached for comment and promised to get back to the News as soon as possible.
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