Pretoria - It was a bleak holiday season for hundreds of displaced Mamelodi squatter camp dwellers who had to relocate to a local community hall with their families last February, after their shacks were washed away by a raging rain storm.
About 200 Mamelodi flood victims have been left hopeless by the government’s broken promises, after they were assured relocation was meant to take place by December, but then postponed to April.
Residents from Mountain View, Mavuso and Willow Farm informal settlements were temporarily moved to the Nellmapius Community Hall in Mamelodi in February 2022.
In the hall that houses them are scattered mattresses and the screams of children playing.
In February 2022 the local river overflowed after heavy rains, washing away their homes. This prompted the government to find a place for them to stay.
During a visit to the hall yesterday, community leader Moses Mboweni said he was not impressed by the government’s failed plans to relocate them. Government officials continuously made false promises, he said.
“After water overflowed into our houses last year February, we came here and the government provided food for us. They have since stopped and have left us to fend for ourselves.”
Mboweni said only a quarter of the group had employment; the rest were loitering around the community hall all day. We marched to the mayoral offices where we were promised relocation last June, but nothing came of that.
“They (the government) promised the municipality had bought land at Mooiplaas where we would be relocated, but that has not happened. We don’t have ID documents; they went with the water.”
Home Affairs came to the community centre and promised to be back, to help them re-apply for their documents, “but they have since disappeared”.
An elderly woman resident at the community centre, only known as “Magogo”, said their lives were at the mercy of people who could not be trusted.
Embattled former Tshwane MMC for Human Settlements Abel Tau had said Human Settlements MEC Lebogang Maile wrote to his office to confirm the purchase of land. Tau had said: “This land measures 472 hectares and is expected to accommodate 15 700 stands.” Tau has since been placed on forced leave over allegations of attempted rape.
Efforts to reach mayor Randall Williams and City or provincial government officials proved fruitless.
Pretoria News