Picture: (Marikana illegal housing occupants at North West High Court)

MARIKANA residents who illegal occupied RDP houses appeared in North West High Court yesterday (Thursday). The local government and human settlements department and Rustenburg local municipality ordered them to vacate the houses however their quest was futile. The department filed for eviction through court.

The court ordered residents to explain why they must not be evicted. The case was postponed until June 10 for hearing.

Local government and human settlements department spokesperson, Ben Bole said they welcomed the postponement.

“The case against Rustenburg local municipality versus the illegal occupants of the houses in Marikana was postponed in the North West High Court to June 10. This was to allow the respondents to file heads of arguments. The court ruled that all approved beneficiaries of the Marikana Extension 2 housing project allow the contractor space to complete the houses that they are presently occupying.

“The rest of the residents who have not been approved or are yet to be approved as beneficiaries must furnish their personal circumstances to the court on June 3. This is in accordance with the Land Act of 1998 – Section 4 of the Prevention of Illegal Occupation and Eviction,” Bole said.

Rustenburg local municipality spokesperson, Thapelo Matebesi said the project was a collaborative effort between our department, Rustenburg local municipality and Lonmin. He said the project was underpinned by the presidential package to deal with housing backlog in the country.

“This resulted in the decision to yield 2 600 units in the Marikana area. Lonmin donated a 50ha portion of land with 860 serviced sites known as Marikana Ext. 2. The sector provincial department provided subsidies and appointed developers for the first phase that saw the construction of 292 Breaking New Ground units (BNG’s). Construction is under way and the completion date was suppose to be this month,” he said.

Matebesi said lawful beneficiaries where identified through extensive consultation with the community. He said however, the project had numerous challenges ranging from stoppages by sub-contractors and community. Matebesi said illegal occupation and pending threats of illegal occupation of the BNG Units also caused the delay.

The Marikana illegal housing occupants leader, Napoleon Webster said: “We will suffer the same gross injustices suffered by mine workers and their families. What they went through was one part of the enslavement of the indigenous dispossessed of South Africa.

“We will never budge, but remain resolute on our mission. The houses are used as ANC machinery to get voters. However the corruption marred this government will be dissolved on August 3. The ANC-led government killed 34 miners and now they are gearing up to kill Marikana residents for demanding decent houses for our people. The houses are official built for mine workers and their community as stipulated in the mining charter,” Webster said.

-TDN

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