Brits - Residents of the Corrie Sanders informal settlement at Oukasie near Brits, marched to the Madibeng local municipality on Tuesday, demanding that the municipality buy the land they occupy from private owners.
“The residents are here [at the municipal office] to ask the municipality to buy the land from private owners and also to indicate to the municipality that we are not prepared to move out,” said residents’ spokesperson Elliot Mayisela.
Mayisela said they found out that a portion of the land belonged to the municipality and the remaining portion were in the hands of private owners.
“It is not only the land, residents demand to be provided with services as spelt [out] in the Constitution. We will not move out of Corrie Sanders until the Madibeng municipality give us a permanent place to stay. Oukasie is a small township, growing rapidly.”
Mayisela said there were at least five informal settlements in Oukasie, as results of the municipality delaying to provide them with place to stay permanent.
The informal settlement on top of a hill near Oukasie was named after South African legendary boxer, Corrie Sanders who was gunned down in 2012 near where the informal settlement mushroomed.
“Sanders killers were found hiding in the bushes on top of that hill, that is why it was named after him,” said Mayisela.
He said after Sanders was murdered two more people were killed around that place.
“Residents occupy the land in an attempted to stamp out criminal activities in the area. Residents want an answer that say, residents of Corrie Sanders your are permanently settled.”
About 200 people gathered in front of the municipal building chanting and blowing vuvuzela. They waved highlighting their frustration.
“People first, Nkandla later, “ read one poster. Another read: “No eviction, Corrie Sanders my home. Batho pele.”
In their memorandum residents demand that the all informal settlements in Oukasie be formalised and provided with water, electricity and sanitation.
The municipality was given seven days to respond to the demands.
Marcus Machete, a member of the mayoral committee responsible for public safety received the memorandum on behalf of the municipality. He promised that the municipality would look into the memorandum and engaged with the residents’ leaders to address issues raised.
The march ended peacefully.
ANA