Very little happiness in this village

Residents of Happiness Village are dismissing recent claims that the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has successfully relocated the residents it unlawfully evicted from the Marievale base in 2017.

Residents say less than half of them were relocated to Zamani informal settlement in Duduza.

Those who remain in Happiness Village say they continue to be harrassed by the military.

In July 2020, GroundUp reported that the army had cut Happiness Village off from the world and placed a community leader under house arrest.

Lawyers for Human Rights applied for a court order at the end of July following which the army reopened the area in August.

However, residents say harassment from soldiers continues.

Veronica Ntuli, who has lived in Marievale since 1992, keeps the original army permit giving her permission to stay in her house next to the informal settlement. She used to operate a shebeen catering to soldiers and nearby Marievale mineworkers.

“This is my home. Where do the soldiers want me to go?” she said. “The soldiers harass and threaten me, saying I must leave or else. Last week on Friday they came making noises at night and they cut off my electricity.

“I am terrified to go out at night. Who knows what they can do to a poor widow like myself,” she said. “Soldiers are the ones who should leave the area and leave us in peace.”

Another resident, Ziyanda Nwazi, said: “We can’t go anywhere without having soldiers ask us where we are going. They patrol our area in tracksuits even after the court ordered them not to come near Happiness Village. Our kids are traumatised.”

Community leader Chris Koitsioe said the army and the mayco member for human settlements are yet to deliver an acceptable relocation plan to provide alternative adequate accommodation.

“Claims that the army relocated us are propaganda,” he said.

Some of the evicted residents who went to live in nearby townships say they can no longer afford to pay rent. They want to return to Happiness Village.

Mayco member for muman settlements Lesiba Mpya said homes would be provided in John Dube housing project. He said over 120 residents had signed consent forms for relocation.

He said the people remaining in Marievale were doing so at their own risk. – GroundUp

The soldiers harass and threaten me, saying I must leave.

Veronica Ntuli Marievale resident