Snake Park residents closed John Daka Road on Thursday with burning tyres, as they objected to shanties that they allege were sold to shack dwellers who do not reside in the Northern Cape.
SNAKE Park residents closed John Daka Road yesterday with burning tyres, as they objected to shanties that they allege were sold to shack dwellers who do not reside in the Northern Cape.
Ward 16 councillor Casper Rammutle said that raw sewage was thrown at his home in Promised Land while he was asleep during the early hours of yesterday morning.
Rammutle indicated that the owner of the land was from Pretoria and had given permission for her boyfriend to erect a shack on her land.
“I am engaging with Sol Plaatje Municipality to provide him with alternative land.”
Community members accused the councillor of “conniving” with officials from the housing section at Sol Plaatje Municipality.
“There are about 20 illegal shanties where plots are sold for around R3 000 each. We know everyone who lives here and these people are not even living within the borders of the Northern Cape. Some are from Taung,” said the angry community members.
The community warned that if authorities did not respond to their grievance within seven days, more drastic action would be taken.
“These people do not live in Snake Park or the Province. If we ask the councillor, then an interdict is obtained against us.”
A community member, Kgomotsigang Jood, stated that he has been living with his girlfriend in Snake Park for the past eight years.
“We will fight for what is ours. A shanty was erected in front of my door. How are we supposed to enter our home? Their structure is obstructing my satellite signal and I cannot watch television.”
Another community member, Motsamai Nelson Molale, added that he would open corruption charges against any person involved in the illegal sale of plots.
“We will obtain affidavits from all the persons who allegedly bought the plots. There is no service delivery – the R16 million project to install bulk infrastructure, toilets, sewage lines and roads in Snake Park was cancelled.”
Ronnie Morwe from Sol Plaatje Municipality, who addressed the protesters, said the shack dwellers occupying the land would undergo a verification process.
“I will consult with the mayor and municipal manager and a follow-up community meeting will be held to outline a timeline to resolve the complaints. The councillor reports to the Speaker, who must investigate the allegations against his conduct.”
Rammutle believes that EFF members were instigated to close the road.
“It was a political ploy as the EFF lost the ward and they want to put their own councillor in my place. This is an ANC ward and I will not be dictated to how to run the ward. I will open criminal charges against the suspects who threw faeces at my house.
“My family’s safety is being placed at risk and they were left traumatised. From tonight, I will let my vicious dog loose in the yard and whoever enters will have to face the music. Whoever threw the faeces or blocked the road must be locked up because it amounts to public violence.”
He stated that he was not involved in any acts of corruption.
“I will never sell land to anyone or allow illegal occupants to take someone else’s yard. It is all lies.”
Rammutle added that he had requested that a new contractor be appointed for the R16 million bulk infrastructure project in Snake Park.
“The contractor was paid R8 million yet there is no progress, there are no toilets, the sewage lines are blocked and there are no roads that were built. The contract was extended until July 30 but he has been dilly-dallying and must be replaced. We dont’ know where he is. Once the new contractor is appointed I will hold a community meeting to inform them who the new service provider is.”
