Residents of Jakaranda, near Klerksdorp in the North West have threatened to take the law into their own hands by occupying the land they have been fighting for since 2000, they said.
This threat follows a court order obtained by the Matlosana Local Municipality that prevents them from occupying municipal land illegally.
The residents notified the municipality two weeks ago through a memorandum pleading with the municipality to place them on property designated aside for housing development.
They said if the municipality does not do so by March 20, they will seize the property they have been battling for since 2000.
Their strategy and efforts seemed to have failed, as they were notified on Saturday by the s director of Planning and Human Settlement Boganne Choechoe that they could not occupy the site since the municipality was still working on land allocation.
The municipality told them that, as from Monday, any construction made by the residents on the municipal land will be demolished.
According to Stone Sehuba, they were unhappy with the manner the municipality was communicating with them, giving them false promises and allocation dates that they never adhered to.
Lydia Zozo said they do not have a choice but occupy the land illegally. “Our government constantly fails us, they once evicted us, let them come and remove us again,” she said.
