‘Malemaville’ shacks trashed again

25/11/2014. Residents of the self-proclaimed Malemaville near Nellmapius east of Pretoria look on after their shacks were taken down by the Tshwane Metro which owns the land. Picture: OUpa Mokoena Picture: Oupa Mokoena

25/11/2014. Residents of the self-proclaimed Malemaville near Nellmapius east of Pretoria look on after their shacks were taken down by the Tshwane Metro which owns the land. Picture: OUpa Mokoena Picture: Oupa Mokoena

Published Nov 26, 2014

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Pretoria - Despite saying it would be seeking a long-term solution to the stalemate at the newly formed “Malemaville” informal settlement, the City of Tshwane on Tuesday demolished shacks erected on the invaded land.

Residents claimed Tshwane Metro Police and the Red Ants burnt the remaining five shacks, including their personal belongings, after three failed eviction-attempts.

The contested land has been a thorn in the city's side since residents illegally occupied it two weeks ago, compelling the city to obtain a court interdict preventing further invasions. However, this has not deterred the residents.

Malemaville residents said they were not given a chance to pack away their possessions when the TMPD arrived on the scene on Tuesday afternoon.

City spokesman Blessing Manale said the city had decided to demolish the structures on the land and said it would be looking to acquire a stronger court order to prevent further occupation attempts.

“We are even considering disposing of the land and selling to a private owner because it is becoming a burden. At that point, the EFF cannot do anything because the land would not belong to us,” he said.

Itumeleng Letsoalo who was at work during the destruction, walked towards the flattened and smouldering shacks where her possessions had been kept since the previous eviction, and bemoaned the harsh measures implemented by the city.

“My childrens’ birth certificates were in there, my identity document, our clothes, everything we had is now gone,” she said.

She said she received a message that she needed to get back to the camp as soon as possible because their shacks were being demolished.

“They took whatever was left after they burnt the shacks. Our pots, our valuables, everything we need to survive was either burnt or stolen,” she said.

“I don’t know where our kids are going to sleep. We don’t have a choice but to sleep here because that’s the only place we can afford,” Letsoalo said.

She remained adamant that they would not be moving from the land, saying they would rebuild their shacks at dawn.

“We will have to miss work and start scraping for materials again tomorrow. We will not move. We will die before that happens,” the mother of two said.

On Tuesday night, about 30 people had gathered around a fire with bread and cold drinks. “This is what we are going to have tonight. Our food was taken so we have to do what we can,” said community leader, Xhelemba Nkosi.

“Those Red Ants in blue overalls swore at us, saying that Malema did not own any land and that they were tired of coming every day to remove us,” he said.

He reiterated that their invasion was not influenced by the Economic Freedom Fighters.

Terry Mabua, an EFF member who has been at the forefront of the confrontation, said they would continue to support the invasion.

Pretoria News

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