Zinc church ‘must go’
A SHANTY church was erected in Lerato Park at the weekend on land earmarked for new houses, to the dismay of some residents who believe that this will delay construction.
The zinc sheets were put up on Saturday and Sunday while the windows and roof still have to be placed.
Builders are apparently building the church after hours because most of them are at work during the day.
Residents do not know which denomination will be holding services in the shanty church.
“It will be impossible to evict the shanty dwellers once they have invaded the land. The erection of the church will pave the way for anyone to build shanties in the same space.”
One resident believed that the church was not registered.
“The congregants of Lerato Park only attend one church and do not know about this new church. The housing plans do not make provision for a church on this side, where the 100 houses are earmarked to be built.”
Others indicated that they welcomed the church because it was right on their doorsteps.
“We usually have to travel to West End to attend church services, or walk about half an hour to the church that is situated in Bobo se Plaas. My children usually have to stay at home because it takes too long for us to walk there when I am running late. The church will be bursting to the brim on Sundays.”
Home owners were warned that they would be evicted if they erected shanties for rent next to their homes or allowed tuck shops to operate at the new housing development, when the houses were handed over in 2013.
However, numerous businesses including hair salons and game shops as well as residential zinc huts have mushroomed in the area.
The tuck shops are run by foreign nationals, who also live in the shops.
The general secretary of the Galeshewe Pastors Organisation, Pastor David Setilo, said he was aware of a number of illegal churches operating in Lerato Park.
“The municipality is not doing anything about the illegal churches. The churches affiliated to us have not invaded any land and are following the correct channels by making applications to the municipality. This is despite them not responding to our letters dating back to 2012. They do not even want to allocate temporary erfs for us.”
The Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs referred all enquiries to the Sol Plaatje Municipality.
Spokesman for the municipality, Sello Matsie, said the municipality had not allocated any land for churches. “All tuck shops that do not have the necessary permits are illegal.” He added that the municipality would instruct the congregation to remove the church structure in Lerato Park.