Military veterans in Kuruman who are party to an ongoing battle over land are preparing to fight the matter in court
UMKHONTO we Sizwe military veterans in Kuruman who are party to an ongoing battle over land are preparing to fight the matter in court.
A group of military veterans started erecting shacks near Tsineng Road in Kuruman, along the R31, last month, claiming that 200 stands had been allocated for their housing needs in a council resolution taken in 2013.
The land was later sold to a private developer – Sobray 15 CC.
Legal letters were sent on behalf of the military veterans to the municipal manager of the Ga-Segonyana and John Taolo Gaetsewe municipalities, the office of the state attorney, the sheriff of the court and the ANC provincial secretary last week.
In a lawyers letter, Bernet Letlhogonolo Motlhamme, from BL Motlhamme Attorneys Notaries and Conveyancers, pointed out that he had advised his clients that it may be necessary to interdict any further action arising from the sale of the property, pending a court application on the decisions that were taken by council.
Motlhamme indicated that his clients were querying the legality of the acquisition of the land, notwithstanding the council resolution that was taken to alienate the land for the military veterans in Kuruman.
“We kindly request the applicants’ attorneys to indicate the process that was followed to develop and or acquire the said land.”
Motlhamme questioned whether a tender was issued for the development and if an environmental impact assessment and public participation process had been concluded.
“We would appreciate it if the responsible municipality could provide our office with a copy of such advert and or confirmation of award of tender.
“We request that our office be provided with a copy of the minutes of any meeting held in relation to the said public participation and or an indication of any public notice or process that was initiated pursuant to the public participation.”
He added that, according to correspondence dated February 19 2019, the registered owner of erf 6740 Kuruman was Sobray 15 CC.
“The property was only transferred into its name on February 7, 2020. As such, we request the municipality to advise how it approved the zoning plan in the name of Sobray 15 CC if they only became the owners of the property in February.”
Motlhamme stated that his clients only became aware of an attempt to interdict them from the land on, or about, October 27.
“Our client for the first time became aware of the application when it was handed in by a member of the public. The initial application was only obtained from the applicants’ attorneys on November 2 after our client instructed our office to advise on this application.”
