Cape Town - The death of a squatter living next to the Maitland Cemetery has sparked a bunfight between the City of Cape Town and his neighbours over the shack he used to live in.
Two weeks ago, Michael Melane, who lived at the “Peace Accord Camp” alongside the cemetery’s grounds near Gate One, was attacked and died. His neighbours claim he was assaulted by people who had since moved to Mfuleni.
Mayoral committee member for human settlements Ernest Sonnenberg said that he was aware of Melane’s death, but that the circumstances were not clear.
In April, the city had relocated 100 families from Maitland to Bardale, Mfuleni, where they were given plots.
Eleven families demanded that the city allow them stay in the cemetery.
Some residents who moved to Mfuleni were unhappy there, so they sold their plots and moved back to Maitland.
The city has confirmed that one person living at the cemetery has been arrested “due to the illegal selling of a plot in Bardale”.
Sonnenberg said that the selling of plots was done informally - not via the Deeds Office - and was illegal.
Melane’s shack has since become the centre of a heated dispute between residents and the city.
Steven Mganga, one of three people currently living in the shack, said he had been renting from Melane.
They have been at loggerheads with the city regarding their tenancy. with Mganga claiming that city representatives had threatened to tear down the shack. The city claims that one of the people who allocated a site in Bardale, and a partner, had invaded Melane’s structure.
“The situation has always been of a temporary nature and the city is currently seeking legal advice to find a permanent solution for the remaining families,” Sonnenberg said.
He said that the city’s Informal Settlements Department’s chief field officer in the area and the Anti-Land Invasion Unit had been monitoring the area and were working with the residents to prevent further invasions.
A community representative, Jimmy Xalipi, said it was not true.
Cape Argus