Foreigners can’t be served first, say flood victims
Locals claim corrupt officials delay relocation
The City of Tshwane has suspended the relocation of Mamelodi flood victims who have been living at a church and community centre since December.
The group were swept off their homes in Eerste Fabrieke informal settlement when the flooded Moretele River burst its banks. The city has cited depleted budget for the suspension of relocations. The victims awaiting relocation to Mooiplaas have their own theory about the delay.
Last week, they gathered at the Mini Munitoria municipal building in Mamelodi East and accused Tshwane officials of corruption in the relocation process. They claimed that the land meant to accommodate them has been sold to foreign nationals by corrupt officials.
Residents allege that foreign nationals were given stands at new plots in Mooiplaas, the land the city bought to accommodate the Eerste Fabriek group.
City of Tshwane spokesperson Lindela Mashigo confirmed that the first phase of relocations was completed.
“We had the meeting with the leaders of the victims and we have clearly communicated to them that we’ll inform them on the next phase of relocations. Currently as the city we are not ready for the second phase.
“We need to clear the site and the surveyor must prepare the stands and we need to provide the rudimentary services in terms of chemical toilets, mobile water tankers, [and] the budget for all [this] is insufficient,” Mashigo said.
According to representative of the flood victims, Kgaogelo Masemola, Tshwane stopped the relocation due to allegations of corruption in the allocation of stands.
Masemola said the process which started in July was stopped because of allegations that foreign nationals were being relocated to new stands.
“I’m very angry because now those stands are given to the wrong people. The reason that land was bought was because of the flood victims, nothing else,” Masemola said.
Anna Selebosha, 45, who lives in Eerste Fabriek inforwould mal settlement with her two toddlers, said she was hoping to be taken to safer land.
Thabo Kekana, 50, said if the City of Tshwane continued to delay relocating them, they would move themselves to new stands and that no-one stop them. He added: “I’m sick and tired of City of Tshwane and the government’s empty promises... if I’m not moved by the end of the week I will hire a van to transport me to new stands and I will allocate myself a stand.”