28 July 08

By Sipho None

THE rate of evictions in Mogale City’s rural areas is increasing at an alarming rate, such that the Department of Land Affairs, together with the municipality, held a workshop in a move to deal with evictions.

Shimi Phate, the manager of rural development and special projects in the Office of the Executive Mayor, said that a report tabled by the department had shown that the rural areas of Mogale City were worst affected by evictions.

“The report from the Department of Land Affairs has revealed that our city’s rural areas have been exposed to high rates of evictions whether legal or illegal, and it was imperative that a form of strategy be developed to address this issue,” Phate said.

Without giving a figure for the number of people evicted on a monthly basis, Phate said: “The number is so enormous that we are only relying on the statistics provided by the national Department of Land Affairs. So we have called on our people to educate them about the Extension of Security of Tenure Act (ESTA).

Various speakers from sectors of the government ranging from the departments of Housing, Public Safety and Social Development, to the Human Rights Commission gave lengthy talks on services they provided regarding evictions.

Phillip Molekwa, from the Human Rights Commission, spoke about the steps to follow when there was a pending eviction, either legal or illegal. He said people should report any sign of a possible eviction to the local councillor or the Office of the Mayor for immediate assistance.

Phate said the rate of evictions had had a negative effect on Mogale City. “Statistics have shown our city to be a leading municipality in terms evictions in Gauteng province. Mogale City has become among the fastest growing municipalities in the country; however, the slow housing delivery for rural communities and other amenities often lead to displacement of people … and this subjects our communities to a high vulnerability situation.”

Poverty
Unacceptable levels of poverty and unemployment led to low morale and social instability.

“The workshop intended to create an overall awareness of issues of basic human rights and the rule of law in our rural communities, and to streamline the government’s efforts to fight poverty and improve the lives of the people generally.”

Councillors, community development workers, community liaison officers and officials from the Rural Development and Housing departments were at the workshop. Residents raised their voices and urged the officials to act hard on farm owners, while some accused councillors and officials of colluding with farm owners.

Martin Kwele, an elderly resident of Magalisburg, spoke about discomfort regarding illegal immigrants, whom he claimed contribute to crime in the area. “While the illegal immigrants need to be treated with respect, they do not have the right to take our jobs and break into our houses. The rate of crime in rural areas has risen sharply due to the illegal immigrants influx.”

An angry resident of Muldersdrift, Tito Joka, referred to an incident in which an old person died of heart attack after being evicted. “Our people are refused access to water and land, while farm owners disregard the law. Some of the municipal officials and councillors are colluding with farm owners in oppressing farm dwellers.”

In response, Raletlhodi Kekae, a councillor, said: “For us to make an impact with regards to non-nationals and others issues, they [non-nationals] need to be part of these activities so that any information that has to do with human rights should filter down to them.”

The workshop followed a similar symposium held last year regarding the plight of farm dwellers in the rural areas of Mogale City.