Land invaders have apparently been promised a meeting with the Sol Plaatje executive mayor, Patrick Mabilo.
THE ERECTION of illegal shacks in Homevale came to a halt on Saturday after land invaders were apparently promised a meeting with the Sol Plaatje executive mayor, Patrick Mabilo.
One of the people erecting shacks in the area said that they had decided to stop constructing their shantys following a meeting with members of the DA in the Northern Cape.
“Some people from the DA came and spoke to us. They asked us to stop building our shacks and that we first have to talk to the mayor. They said we will meet with the mayor on Tuesday. We have been busy building our shacks since the morning but have stopped until after the meeting. We are hoping that we will reach a consensus on Tuesday, August 11, 2020,” he said.
The shack dwellers said that although they had been painted as being unreasonable and criminals, they were left with no other option but to occupy the land.
“We have been asking for land to construct our shanties for more than three years.
“We had approached the municipality and our requests had fallen on deaf ears.
“We have also asked for land from the person who is in charge of allocating land to residents. We have, however, come to know that the mayor was not informed about our request for land.
“We do not want to start trouble by erecting the shacks but we are left with no option. We have various people, some of them being elderly, who do not have homes or are staying in overcrowded homes with their families. Everyone needs a place of their own and not be dependent on family their entire lives,” they said.
They added that land in Roodepan that had been allocated to them was not suitable for their needs.
“Our children go to school in Homevale. We cannot be expected to now have to pay for transportation for them when they have to attend school. Moving to Roodepan would be too far for us and not suit our pocket.”
The Sol Plaatje Municipality could not be reached for comment regarding the “promised” meeting with the mayor.
