The Musina Municipality destroyed more than 700 shacks that were built on land earmarked for the development of 300 RDP houses last Wednesday (April 4).

The settlement, known as Sehlalangenkani (we stay by force), was established illegally three years ago by people who claimed that the municipality was failing to provide them with a place to stay. It was later established that the majority of the people in the settlement were illegal immigrants who came to look for greener pastures in the country. The place was now regarded as a crime zone where illegal cigarettes were smuggled while it was a health hazard for the inhabitants. There was no running water or toilets.

Mirror also learnt that the inhabitants paid a certain amount of money to the ‘settlement leadership’ before they were allocated stands. Sources also said that the settlers also paid legal fees to their leaders to avoid the long-overdue eviction.

Stones from angry demonstrators flew, but the situation was calmed down by a strong police contingent that arrested a number of people for public violence and malicious damage to property. A bulldozer was also damaged during the confrontation with the police.

Municipal Manager Abraham Luruli says now that the shacks have been destroyed, the municipality will start with the development as a matter of urgency. He added that the municipality had been negotiating with the inhabitants to vacate the land for a long time, but without success. "We had no alternative but to execute the court order to vacate them. We have been asking them to move but they stayed there forcefully. As a responsible municipality, we had to act because our mandate is to make sure that all our people are getting a better life. During the destruction of the shacks, we also found documentary proof of people who come from Zimbabwe."

Luruli added that the people were given enough time to move their belongings before the bulldozers started cleaning up the settlement. "According to the court order, the final date for their stay was 01 April but we also gave them the 2nd and the 3rd so that they might have enough time to prepare themselves. We also moved around the place requesting them to move peacefully, but they did not respect the court order. We told them we wanted to develop the place and we cannot stop that because of people who do not respect the laws of the country. Some of the people who have occupied the land are also going to benefit from the new development."

He said several attempts were made to speak to the occupants, but to no avail. "We even formed a task team with different stakeholders and made a recommendation that they should move. They even failed to turn up in court, raising the suspicion that they are using delaying tactics to avoid moving."

The chairperson of the Greater Musina Development Forum, Sinky Makushu, said his people decided to start the settlement because there was great shortage of RDP houses in Musina. "We had no other alternative but to start this settlement. We have been moved out of here illegally but we are going to take steps against the municipality. They will have to pay for damages suffered by my people. We don’t know why they did this because the court date was set for 29 May."

One of the evicted inhabitants, Mr Thomas Mhone (48), said he did not know where to stay after the shack was demolished. "I have two kids and their mother is no longer alive. Life will be a struggle for me because I have nowhere to lay my head."