ABOUT 3 000 residents in Mamelodi occupied an open piece of land near Pienaarspoort for the 16th time at the weekend.
And for the 16th time, police and the Red Ants removed them.
But now they have vowed not to go anywhere, and have even named the place Retshwenyegile, meaning: “We have suffered”.
The residents started erecting shacks on plot 45 last Friday. Police and the Red Ants removed their shacks on Tuesday. But despite the demolished shacks, the people vowed to stay. They protested while singing struggle songs and blocked the railway line in the area with rocks and burning tyres. When police came to disperse them with rubber bullets and teargas, the protesters went to foreigners’ spaza shops and looted them.
Martin Matlala, the squatters’ representative, told the People’s Paper they have been fighting for the open space since 2008 and have held meetings with Tshwane’s department of housing but nothing has happened.
“This is the 16th time we have built shacks here and it is the last time – we’re not going anywhere,” said Martin.
He said the people of Mamelodi needed land and plot 45 was the only available empty space. He encouraged others to come and occupy the land.
“It is free! Everyone in Mamelodi who has no place to stay should come and get a stand. Government failed to give us land and RDPs and we’re not going to wait for them any more,” Martin said.
Mosima Kgwete (36), who has erected a shack at Retshwenyegile, told Daily Sun she would vote for another party.
“If they won’t let us stay here we will hurt the ANC where it hurts the most – at the polls,” Mosima said.
Councillor Jabu Mabona said the city had obtained a court interdict against the land invaders.
