It has been three months since squatters have been moved from various camps in the area and relocated to two properties on Sunset Drive in Muldersdrift.
Although the residents seem to be settling in, many still want to know what is being done about service delivery.
Photos: Natasha Pretorius.
The Mogale City Local Municipality (MCLM) has sent a statement in response to some of the questions raised about the camp.
Read more:
https://krugersdorpnews.co.za/371579/future-of-sunset-drive-settlement-residents-unsure/
A while ago, the Red Ants destroyed some of the residents’ shacks. According to MCLM, building brick-and-mortar structures is illegal.
The space provided to the residents were for shacks only and not permanent structures.
A question that has been asked at the camp from the start was whether the residents were to be moved again later this year.
“The current occupants will not be relocated. MCLM submitted a request to the MEC for Human Settlements for a proper human settlement structure,” the MCLM statement read.
The News recently visited the camp and noticed that more toilets have been provided in addition to the 35 that were there when the settlers were relocated. In its statement MCLM called it an improvement as the residents had no services at the previous sites.
Skip bins have been provided for waste and the electricity supply to the properties have been disconnected to prevent illegal connections, according to the statement.
This, according to a reliable source, has however forced residents to connect illegally to the electricity supply of a nearby sewage pump.
There are more than one tap on the property provided by the residents themselves, and the swimming pool and fish bonds have been properly filled up since the News’ reports of near-tragedies relating to the pool and the ponds.
MCLM responded to the issue of services to be provided. “This is a temporary solution in response to the court order which ordered the municipality to find alternative place for people who were illegally occupying a private land and as the settlement is not yet a formalised township … services are at the basic (not standard) level at this stage,”
MCLM has however engaged the provincial government about the matter.
Residents of the camp and surrounding areas are however still worried about pollution, illegal electricity and water connections, and their and others’ safety.
