SHACK dwellers have invaded land just behind the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature.
About 1900 illegal shacks have been erected at Club 2000, which is very close to the legislature in Galeshewe.
The Sol Plaatje local municipality initially cleaned up the land earmarked for residents from another settlement, Waterloo, that is next to the West-End cemetery.
While Waterloo was being surveyed nearby residents, mostly youths, continued to erect shacks without permission.
The place is congested, with no street lights and it has only water taps and two public toilets. Residents rely on nearby homes for decent ablution facilities.
According to a resident, who did not want to be named, theirs is a "quest for the right to live".
"The municipality has declared a moratorium on the sale of land, yet agents get land to build townhouses and guesthouses. What about the poor who also need space to live? Whose land is this anyway, to warrant that it be sold to the highest bidder for profit?" he asked.
Community leader Nino Motaung said: "The priority of the municipality has shifted in favour of the rich. What we have here is young people taking advantage of the spoils of freedom that Madiba guaranteed. The ageist posture of the current government that seeks to disqualify those below 40 from housing will be met with heightened defiance."
He was referring to recent statements attributed to Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu that people below the age of 40 may only get low cost housing under unique circumstances.
Residents vow not to move, no matter how congested the place is.
Sol Plaatje municipality spokesman Sello Matsie confirmed the land was not earmarked for the current occupiers.
"But the law forces us to supply basic services where people live, irrespective of their legality, and we did just that.
"We will soon survey the place and we will take it from there," he concluded.
A stone's throw away is the provincial legislature which has the unique distinction of being the only legislature situated in a township.
newsdesk@sowetan.co.za
For more stories like this one, be sure to buy the Sowetan newspaper from Mondays to Fridays
Squatters take over Legislature - about 2000 shacks erected in defiant show
SHACK dwellers have invaded land just behind the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature.
About 1900 illegal shacks have been erected at Club 2000, which is very close to the legislature in Galeshewe.
The Sol Plaatje local municipality initially cleaned up the land earmarked for residents from another settlement, Waterloo, that is next to the West-End cemetery.
While Waterloo was being surveyed nearby residents, mostly youths, continued to erect shacks without permission.
The place is congested, with no street lights and it has only water taps and two public toilets. Residents rely on nearby homes for decent ablution facilities.
According to a resident, who did not want to be named, theirs is a "quest for the right to live".
"The municipality has declared a moratorium on the sale of land, yet agents get land to build townhouses and guesthouses. What about the poor who also need space to live? Whose land is this anyway, to warrant that it be sold to the highest bidder for profit?" he asked.
Community leader Nino Motaung said: "The priority of the municipality has shifted in favour of the rich. What we have here is young people taking advantage of the spoils of freedom that Madiba guaranteed. The ageist posture of the current government that seeks to disqualify those below 40 from housing will be met with heightened defiance."
He was referring to recent statements attributed to Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu that people below the age of 40 may only get low cost housing under unique circumstances.
Residents vow not to move, no matter how congested the place is.
Sol Plaatje municipality spokesman Sello Matsie confirmed the land was not earmarked for the current occupiers.
"But the law forces us to supply basic services where people live, irrespective of their legality, and we did just that.
"We will soon survey the place and we will take it from there," he concluded.
A stone's throw away is the provincial legislature which has the unique distinction of being the only legislature situated in a township.
newsdesk@sowetan.co.za
For more stories like this one, be sure to buy the Sowetan newspaper from Mondays to Fridays
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos