Johannesburg - They are white in a black township. But they have integrated well with the residents and are living in harmony in Munsieville in Krugersdorp.
These new neighbours are from a once united community at a predominantly white squatter camp in Coronation Park, Krugersdorp.
For more than 10 years they lived in the public park until Mogale City won a court order last year to evict them, to make way for a R24 million re-development.
Their eviction last month was a double-edged sword of fear and segregation.
They evidently split, some moved to an exclusively Afrikaans development called Kleinvallei in Krugersdorp; none of the few black people from the park were allowed there.
And most moved to the township.
Kleinvallei is owned by a company which belongs to none other than Sunette Bridges.
This week, Bridges appeared before the Equality Court after she was accused by the SA Human Rights Commission of hosting commentary on her Facebook page which constitutes hate speech.
But in Munsieville, the squatters say they feel they are finally home.
“Everywhere we go we hear ‘Hola’; our children play with the township children, we are like a family.
“Everyone is safe and we help each other,” said André Kotze.
Munsieville residents say they don’t see white, just new members of the community.
“We are used to them now, they are good people.
“They don’t have problems with anyone. This land belongs to us all, we live to share,” said Kagiso Maobi, a resident.
Their shacks are built on the outskirts of the township in a mountainous plain.
“Back at the park we didn’t have such a view,” said Kotze.
“And I am glad there also aren’t trees that can fall on us like it had happened once at the park.”
Mogale City built about 62 shacks for them until RDP houses can be provided.
Although the dwellings do not have electricity, there is running water and mobile toilets.
“We get more than the guys in Kleinvallei,” said Kotze. “We get sponsors and friendships.”
Community leader Irene van Niekerk said it is much better to stay with the black people in the township.
They are lovely people, she said.
“Munsieville is our home now.
“Our neighbours have welcomed us with open arms and we thank them for their hospitality.”
Those who chose to go to Kleinvallei still live in tents, houses are not built yet and the project seems to be falling apart, said Van Niekerk.
“Since we live with black people, Bridges calls us white k****rs,” Van Niekerk said.
“She (Bridges) never helped us when we stayed at the park, and she never helped when we fought the city in court, but now she divides us and mistreats those living at Kleinvallei,” said Van Niekerk.
She said Bridges allegedly also kicked out some old people from Kleinvallei because they were unable to work at the farm.
“Just last week her colleague, Amanda de Lange, brought two old people here, but we couldn’t accommodate them because the city built these shacks, we can’t add more,” she said.
Even in their new homes in the township, the community still have their Wednesday or Thursday meals because their sponsors are helping like they did at the park.
Back at Coronation Park, Mogale City is about to flatten all traces of the squatters ever having lived there.
Birds can be heard chirping in trees, there is no thick smoke from cooking fires and the air is clean.
There is no reverberation from generators any longer.
Just silence.
- Saturday Star