By OBAKENG MAJE
3 February 2025- The aggrieved residents of Boipelo Informal Settlement in Reivilo said they continue to live in squalor without basic needs such as electricity, roads, accessible clean and drinkable, including sanitation. The residents blame the Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) for failing to provide real solutions to rescue them.
One of the community leaders, Piet van Neck said, to rub salts into their wounds, the municipality is relocating them. Van Neck said they have occupied the land for some years, but they are continuing to be harassed by the government.
“The municipality has failed us dismally and could not provide us with real solutions to our basic needs. No solution to improve our well-being. We are faced with constant challenges regarding service delivery.
“The municipality has given us pipe dreams a few years ago, instead of delivering on their promises, they opt to remove us. They alleged that we have occupied private land and they want to relocate us,” he said.
According to van Neck, slow service delivery infuriates them.
Meanwhile, the Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) spokesperson, Ricky Oliphant said: “Yes, the municipality is very much aware of the dire situation in Boipelo Informal Settlement, hence we have established a formally proclaimed township to relocate them. The informal site is privately owned and within a flood line.
“The municipality had a couple of community meetings before relocating them to go through the relocation plan and hear their queries and concerns. The Water and Sanitation Unit is aware of the water challenges at the area and a short-term measure has been put in place.”
Oliphant further said the Town Planning Unit under Department of Spatial Planning and Human Settlement has established a formally proclaimed township at Boipelo, where Department of Infrastructure Development and Engineering Services are busy with blading of access roads to ensure accessible roads. He added that, last year, the Water and Sanitation Unit provided the area with a 1000L Jojo Tank and installed 4x stand water pipes.
“The residents have access to water within less than 200m radius. Yes, the residents occupied the land properly and some of them are already on the site. The Human Settlement unit provided a beneficiary list of occupants who will be relocating to the new settlement.
“The unit is finalising the relocation process of other residents on the site. There is a challenge of having residents who are already on the site, but they do not qualify according to the list of the beneficiaries,” said Oliphant.
He said the residents that do not qualify and those encroached on the privately-owned property, will be moved into the identified alternative land in Boipelo Township, which is municipality owned. Oliphant added that a layout plan has already been drafted.
“Due to the dolomitic nature of Reivilo, studies need to be conducted on the site to determine the suitability of land for human settlement,” he said.
The Guardian 